Yorkshire's Craig White has undergone a series of injections on his bad back in an effort to get fully fit to bowl next summer.

He hopes the treatment will clear up the trouble which prevented him bowling last season after taking a stack of wickets in the first few matches in May.

"Craig recently went on a short private tour of the West Indies and managed to bowl but not at full pace," said cricket chairman Bob Platt today. "We will know after net practises in the middle of January if he is continuing to make progress."

The signing of Somerset batsman Richard Harden on a two-year contract is a short term measure aimed at strengthening Yorkshire's middle order while younger players are gaining experience, explained Platt.

But he stressed that 33-year-old Harden, who plans to emigrate to New Zealand with his Kiwi-born wife, Nicki, when his contract ends, will not have his place in the side guaranteed.

"Harden's presence will mean there is greater competition for the likes of Anthony McGrath and Craig White, but we will continue our policy of picking the batsmen who are in the best form," said Platt.

"We were weak in the middle order too often last season and I cannot expect the tail-enders to go on picking up the batting bonus points for us. We need someone to steady things down if early wickets fall and I have every confidence in Harden."

Yorkshire are forced under the regulations to wait a fortnight after officially talking to Harden before they can sign him, but he should be on their books by the end of next week.

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