RYAN Sidebottom, fit again after a groin injury, was back with Yorkshire today as they aimed to go flat out to clinch the Championship title against relegation-haunted Glamorgan at the Scarborough Cricket Festival.

To do so, Yorkshire must take maximum points off the Welshmen but if they fall short they look certain to bring the Championship pennant home from The Oval when they meet reigning champions Surrey in a fortnight's time.

In a nice gesture following the furore over the opening of Headingley's new West Stand, Yorkshire are planning to invite former Prime Minister John Major to hand over the Lord's Taverners' Trophy at The Oval.

Major, who is president of Surrey, reluctantly turned down the invitation to open the stand after criticism of Yorkshire's choice from some of the county's top ex-cricketers.

If Yorkshire do win the title while in London they will return home to a celebration at Headingley and possibly an open-top bus ride before moving on to Scarborough for further partying during the last match of the season against Essex.

Sidebottom, who showed no ill-effects when he took 3 for 38 against Leicestershire Foxes on Sunday, was preferred to fellow left-arm swing bowler, Paul Hutchison, who has been told he does not figure in Yorkshire's future plans.

Matthew Hoggard also had a successful work-out with Yorkshire Phoenix on Sunday following his foot injury, but he is still building up to full fitness and will probably return to Championship cricket in the Surrey match.

Yorkshire were also more than happy to be able to include Michael Vaughan who batted beautifully at Grace Road to make 82 and 47 in his first Championship match after recovering from a knee operation.

Unfortunately for Vaughan, he is still feeling too much soreness in his knee to declare himself fit enough to return for England in the fifth and final Test against Australia at The Oval on Thursday.

"It has been a big disappointment to miss out on the whole of the Ashes series but I have still got a smile on my face through being able to help Yorkshire win the Championship," said Vaughan.

"If any team deserves to take the title this year it is Yorkshire - and it is good that success is coming back again after so many years."

Yorkshire (v Glamorgan) from: Wood, White, Vaughan, Lehmann, McGrath, Byas, Fellows, Hamilton, Blakey, Dawson, Kirby, Sidebottom, Gray.

Updated: 09:44 Tuesday, August 21, 2001