David Warner on Yorkshire Cricket

Chris Silverwood got Yorkshire off to a great start at Lord's today by taking a wicket with his fourth ball after Middlesex had won the toss and batted first in the championship match.

Opener David Goodchild, in only his second first class match, missed a well pitched up ball from Silverwood and was lbw before a run had been scored.

Yorkshire brought in off spinner-batsman James Middlebrook for his championship debut.

Ryan Sidebottom, who had travelled with the team, was unfit because of a groin strain, and right arm fast bowler Matthew Hoggard was called up late yesterday from the second team match at Blackpool.

In the event however, he was not required because Yorkshire felt that the pitch would be helpful to slow bowling and they included two spinners in Richard Stemp and Middlebrook.

Yorkshire skipper David Byas has decided to open the innings for Yorkshire in order to allow Anthony McGrath to move down the order.

McGrath has had a disappointing season going in first and Byas hopes he will be able to find better form at No 5.

When Martyn Moxon decided to retire in the winter, McGrath was his obvious successor as opener but he has had a disappointing season so far.

In the first nine championship matches, McGrath has scored only 289 runs at an average of 22.23 whereas Vaughan has rapped out 646 runs at 58.83.

Matthew Wood will be promoted from that spot, replacing Byas at first wicket down.

Wood, from Huddersfield, is a thoroughbred opener but Byas was also brought up in that role and prefers to do the job for the time being rather than put too much early pressure on the 21-year-old.

Bradley Parker, currently trying to regain his form with the second team in their four day match against Lancashire at Blackpool, has been dropped from Sunday's AXA League game with Middlesex at Lord's and Wood is expected to take his place.

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