Yorkshire's leading left-arm fast bowler Paul Hutchison has been pulled out of the club's pre-season tour of Australia.

He is still working on remodelling his bowling action in an attempt to cut down on the serious back injuries which have so far plagued his career.

Hutchison was told this week to continue his work in the nets back home but his absence from the tour must place a question mark over his ability to get match fit for the start of the new season.

His place in the squad of 15 has gone to Academy fast bowler Gary Ramsden, from Mirfield, who was today celebrating his 17th birthday.

Yorkshire skipper David Byas said: "It was obvious that Paul was not going to be ready to play in any of the early matches in Australia and we didn't want him to go all that way and only be able to do a limited amount of bowling.

"With none of our five England players going on the tour, we needed to look at another of our young fast bowlers and Gary is an excellent seamer who is similar to Darren Gough in build.

"We want to know what all our youngsters are capable of doing and this is a marvellous opportunity for Gary to shine."

Yorkshire reported back for training yesterday.

"We have yet to learn just when our England contracted players will be available and this uncertainty means we may have to call upon several of the younger staff at short notice," added Byas.

England cricket chairman David Graveney got cut off yesterday when he rang Craig White on his mobile - but not before he had amazed the Yorkshire all-rounder by informing him that he was among the elite dozen who are to be given new six-month central contracts by the ECB.

White's Yorkshire colleagues Darren Gough and Michael Vaughan were near certainties for the list but White's inclusion alongside them is a much bigger surprise and marks an astonishing career rival at Test level.

The only mild disappointment in the Yorkshire camp is that Chris Silverwood did not gain a place but he remains a leading candidate for a Test spot.

White thought he would probably make the one-day squad after doing well for England in the limited overs matches in South Africa and Zimbabwe during the winter, but he never guessed he would be a key figure in the build-up for this season's Test series against Zimbabwe and the West Indies.

White had played in just three one-day games for Central Districts in New Zealand when he was unexpectedly wanted by England to replace the injured Andy Flintoff and he struck up an instant rapport with England coach Duncan Fletcher.

"He told me I was a cricketer with a Southern Hemisphere attitude and with natural ball skills."

"England know I am a good player," said White. "I can fill any role with either bat or ball but being in the Test frame means that I will need to bat with greater responsibility in first class matches.

"Being on a central contract in no way lessens my commitment to Yorkshire. I am sure I will be playing in some of the championship matches before the Tests."

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