YORKSHIRE'S out-of-form captain David Byas is dropping himself down the batting order in tomorrow's Championship match against Somerset at Scarborough in the hope of finding runs easier to come by.

Simon Widdup, who replaces the axed Matthew Wood, will open the innings instead of skipper Byas, nicknamed Bingo, who will come in at No 5.

And as Yorkshire seek to remedy recent batting failures Anthony McGrath bats at No 3, with wicketkeeper Richard Blakey being moved down from that spot to No 6.

Byas's lack of runs is one of the reasons for Yorkshire's slump in recent weeks and in 14 Championship innings to date he has managed only 281 runs at an average of 20.07 without once hitting a half-century.

Off-spinner James Middlebrook is also a casualty from the side which lost by 203 runs to Surrey at The Oval and with the North Marine Road pitch expected to favour seam bowlers it is hardly surprising that left-armer Paul Hutchison makes a comeback.

Gavin Hamilton remains out of action with a side injury, but Michael Vaughan has recovered from the ankle strain which caused him to miss Sunday's Norwich Union National League match against Sussex Sharks at Arundel.

After two heavy defeats in their last three Championship matches, Yorkshire must beat middle-of-the-table Somerset if they are to renew their fading title challenge.

Yorkshire (v Somerset): Vaughan, Widdup, McGrath, Lehmann, Byas, Blakey, Fellows, Silverwood, Sidebottom, Hutchison, Hoggard.