IAN Harvey was attempting to inject some flair into Yorkshire Phoenix when he returned to the side for their totesport League floodlit match against Kent Spitfires at Canterbury today.

The Australian all-rounder, now recovered from a broken thumb, missed Sunday's match with Derbyshire Phantoms at Scarborough because his young son had been rushed into hospital with a small ball in his throat but, happily, that scare is now over.

Although Yorkshire are making satisfactory progress towards promotion in the Championship, their form in the totesport League is abysmal and they need a player of Harvey's all-round ability to turn in a performance which will help to lift the gloom.

The five-wicket defeat at the hands of Derbyshire meant they had lost seven of their last nine matches and they have plummeted down the second division table after leading it at the start of May.

Scottish Saltires prop up the table but Yorkshire and Kent are just above them with 20 points each and whoever loses tonight will sink even deeper into the mire.

Phil Jaques will be playing in his last away match for Yorkshire. His swansong will be against Leicestershire Foxes at Headingley on Sunday and he then leaves for Australia 'A's tour of Pakistan.

Michael Vaughan can expect a rousing reception when he brings his World XI to Headingley tomorrow for a Twenty20 match against Yorkshire as part of his benefit season.

Most of the England heroes who defeated Australia at Trent Bridge on Sunday are in Vaughan's squad but who turns out in a game with rolling substitutes is anyone's guess.

The game begins at 5.30pm and will now be played under floodlights, the organisers suddenly realising that it should be dropping dark in the closing overs at this time of the year.

Yorkshire Phoenix (v Kent Spitfires) from: Jaques, White, Lumb, Harvey, McGrath, Wood, Sayers, Bresnan, Dawson, Kruis, Guy, Blain.

Updated: 11:35 Tuesday, August 30, 2005