Yorkshire Cricket by David Warner

Darren Gough has had an operation to remove a ripped big toe nail but he will be fit to play for Yorkshire against Worcestershire at New Road tomorrow as he builds up for the crunch Test at Headingley next week.

The damaged nail, on his left foot, bothered Gough in South Africa's second innings at Trent Bridge and he had the nail removed shortly after England had won the Test by eight wickets to level the series.

"His toe should not be too painful after a couple of days rest and he should be able to bowl flat out," said Yorkshire and England physiotherapist Wayne Morton.

Chris Silverwood, Gough's new-ball partner with Yorkshire, learned yesterday that his hospital scan had revealed a stress reaction to his shin but no stress fracture.

He will, however, have to rest for three to four weeks and could be out of action for the remainder of the season.

Morton said Yorkshire had arranged for Silverwood to see an orthopaedic specialist later this week to try to discover why the fast bowler had picked up shin soreness for the second time this summer.

"It may be that he is bringing his foot down in a particular way on certain pitches and landing badly," said Morton.

"If we can find out the reason for the problem, he may be able to change his run-up and bowling action slightly so that it does not go on happening. It is important that he gets things sorted out so that he is fit to be considered for the Ashes tour of Australia this winter."

Young fast bowler Matthew Hoggard has joined Yorkshire's long injury list with a groin strain but he responded to treatment yesterday and has a 50-50 chance of being fit for Yorkshire at Worcestershire.

Meanwhile, the rush for tickets for the Headingley Test showed no signs of easing off and extra staff have been brought in to cope with that demand.

A new telephone system in the Yorkshire offices means that Headingley is the only Test ground at which tickets can be purchased outside office hours.

After the office had closed at 7pm on Monday, £2,000 of tickets had been sold by next morning to people who had rung 0113 278 7394 and listened to further instructions before giving their credit card details.

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