Yorkshire and England fast bowler Matthew Hoggard is likely to miss the first Test against Pakistan at Lord's starting on May 17 because of the back injury he suffered at Canterbury on the first day of the season.

A hospital scan has revealed a muscular problem rather than any stress fracture but the injury is still expected to sideline Hoggard for at least a fortnight.

This means he will miss Yorkshire's Championship match against Somerset at Headingley next Wednesday and there is no other first class game after that for him to prove his fitness to England.

Gavin Hamilton, who missed out at Canterbury because of a slight hamstring strain, was in the wars again yesterday when he experienced shin problems during Yorkshire's B&H game with Nottinghamshire.

Hamilton travelled to Leicester for today's game but is unlikely to play and he will be replaced by off-spinner James Middlebrook with skipper David Byas opening the innings in place of Hamilton.

Updated: 09:49 Thursday, May 03, 2001