Yorkshire all-rounder Gavin Hamilton was all set to play against his county at Scarborough today in Scotland's final World Cup warm-up match, despite suffering from shin soreness.

Scotland's coach Jim Love, the former Yorkshire batsman, was not naming his side until shortly before the start but he was keen that Hamilton should be given the chance to stay sharpened up in readiness for Scotland's opening World Cup game against Australia at Worcester on Sunday.

Hamilton claimed two wickets and scored an unbeaten 91 in a great show against Durham at Riverside but Love rested him as a precautionary measure against Lancashire at Old Trafford on Monday.

"I have had the problem since Yorkshire's opening game with Gloucestershire and it troubled me further at Taunton, but I am hoping it will have cleared up completely.

"I really enjoyed playing against Durham and it was great to score some runs after being unable to do anything at all with the bat in the championship match against Somerset. I am feeling in good all-round form again now and am looking forward to the World Cup challenge."

Love and the Scotland team were disappointed to arrive at North Marine Road early yesterday afternoon and find the outfield too wet for them to practice on, and Yorkshire also had to cancel their intended net session at the ground.

Scotland did manage some training routines inbetween the showers, however, but Love said it was disappointing that the ground was too soft for full-scale nets.

"I am reasonably happy with our preparations so far but they have been hindered by the weather and we need a full match against Yorkshire if at all possible," he added.

"We could not have been given a more difficult start than Australia followed by Pakistan at Chester-le-Street and we will have to be as well organised as we possibly can."

Yorkshire are just as eager for an uninterrupted day's cricket today as Scotland because it is now nine days since their last match and they want to get rid of any ring rustiness before Friday's championship game against Middlesex at Headingley.

Meanwhile, left-arm swing bowler Paul Hutchison, who missed the start of the season with the back problems which brought about his early return from England A's winter tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa, will test his fitness on Saturday by playing for Bradford League club Pudsey St Lawrence.

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