COUNTY champions Yorkshire are all set to become the technological whizzkids of the first class cricket circuit.

The club have joined forces with Firstnet Services Ltd, an award winning Internet and technology solutions provider, and work is now underway to develop a state-of-the arts website which will allow users to access a stack of information.

They will be able to buy tickets and merchandise on line, view photo and biographic information from library archives and pick up news about their favourite Yorkshire players.

Once the website goes live there will be opportunities for Yorkshire supporters all over the world to listen to match commentaries, witness the fall of wickets and playback highlights online.

Tony Panaro, Yorkshire's commercial director, said: "It is in keeping with our tradition of dealing with Yorkshire-based companies and it will also put Yorkshire CCC on top as far as technology goes, complimenting their on-field position."

Alongside the website, Firstnet will also provide Yorkshire with their administration requirements using "thin client technology" which means that all data is held off-site at a secure data-centre, ensuring that the club won't have to worry about security and losing data and files.

Bryan Cobley, development director and co-founder of Firstnet said: "As a Yorkshire company ourselves, we are proud to be able to bring to YCCC innovative solutions, products and services which will keep the club - and cricket enthusiasts everywhere - ahead of the game."

Updated: 11:58 Monday, January 28, 2002