LEFT-HANDER Michael Lumb, man-of-the-match in Yorkshire's C&G Trophy quarter-final triumph, has not been able to win back his Championship place in the game against Leicestershire which starts at Scarborough tomorrow.
But left-arm fast bowler David Lucas is poised to make his Championship debut for the Tykes and leg-spinner Mark Lawson comes into the squad of 12 for the first time this season.
Lumb was dropped by Yorkshire in their last Championship outing at Worcester and he remains sidelined, despite his stylish 89 on Saturday which put his side's C&G score out of Northamptonshire's reach.
Discounting Twenty20 Cup games, it was Lumb's third consecutive half-century in one-day matches but director of cricket David Byas wants to see bigger Second XI knocks from Lumb before returning to the Championship side.
"Michael has done very well all season in limited overs cricket and averages in excess of 40 but he has managed only one half-century at first class level and I want to see him converting 20s and 30s into big centuries in the second team," said Byas.
"He is playing in the Second XI three-day game against Surrey which started at Whitgift School today and I would love to see him get a big score under his belt.
"I am confident that the runs will come and that he will be returning to the first team soon because he is a batsman with England potential who needs some long innings to re-establish himself."
Richard Pyrah, who hit a career-best 78 at Worcester, has had to drop out because Ian Harvey returns now that he has recovered from a neck injury.
Lucas replaces Matthew Hoggard, now with England for the Test series, and the hope is that Lucas will be able to swing the ball as well as bring some variation to the attack. His left-arm bowling should also roughen up the pitch a bit and this should assist off-spinner Richard Dawson, who is reduced to the ranks again now that skipper Craig White is back from his knee injury.
The game also provides Matthew Wood with what may be one last chance to make some runs after going through a lean spell in all forms of cricket. He has not hit a half-century in any of his last ten Championship innings and has failed to score in both of his last two one-day games.
If Wood does not come good soon, it could open the door to Chris Taylor, who has been scoring prolifically in the second team and in league cricket this season.
Yorkshire (v Leicestershire) from: Wood, Sayers, McGrath, Jaques, Harvey, White, Dawood, Dawson, Bresnan, Lucas, Kruis, Lawson.
Updated: 10:04 Tuesday, July 19, 2005
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