Steven Kirby, who created a sensation last week by blasting out seven Kent batsmen for 50 runs when he replaced Matthew Hoggard in Yorkshire's side, holds on to his place in the CricInfo Championship leaders match against Somerset at Bath tomorrow.

Kirby, 23, signed on a two-year contract after previous experience with Leicestershire Seconds, is assured of his first full game for Yorkshire because Chris Silverwood remains unfit with the groin injury which caused him to retire hurt during the Kent match.

Yorkshire are also unsure at this stage whether Matthew Hoggard and Ryan Sidebottom will be joining up with their county team-mates in Bath later today.

England have said they will release Hoggard if Andy Caddick comes through a fitness test ahead of today's match against Pakistan at Lord's while Sidebottom will only travel if his shin soreness has cleared up.

If Sidebottom does not make it, then Paul Hutchison will get another chance to press his first team claims. He has played in only one Championship match out of six so far this season but in four Second XI games has bagged 30 victims.

With four wins from their six fixtures so far, Yorkshire enjoy a 24 points lead at the top of the Division One table and skipper David Byas is keen stretch their advantage even further at Bath, a venue they have not visited in the Championship since 1974.

Byas also said he was hoping that Kirby would be able to continue the dynamic form he showed on his unexpected debut against Kent.

"I don't want to detract from his effort in any way but one swallow doesn't make a summer and I would love to see him do the same again and show that it wasn't just a one-off," said Byas.

"I was thrilled for him because he bowled so aggressively and really threw himself into the game. He fitted into the side extremely well and is a popular character."

Byas said that the restriction imposed on Craig White by England on the number of overs he could bowl had now been lifted and he could be used as often as was necessary.

Yorkshire (v Somerset) from: Richardson, Wood, White, Lehmann, Byas, Fellows, Blakey, Hamilton, Middlebrook, Kirby, Hutchison, Sidebottom, Hoggard.

Updated: 09:24 Tuesday, June 12, 2001