MARTYN Moxon will experience mixed emotions when Yorkshire open their LV Championship home programme tomorrow with the visit of Durham to Headingley Carnegie.

The two sides clashed on the same ground in the final match of last season and Durham head coach Moxon was cock-a-hoop that his team managed to avoid relegation by the skin of their teeth.

So did Yorkshire. Although pleased that his native county had also pulled off a Houdini act, Moxon's dressing room celebrations were all to do with Durham.

Now things are very different with Moxon back in charge of professional cricket at Yorkshire and concentrating entirely on showing that he and Darren Gough are the dream ticket that will mastermind a White Rose renaissance.

Of course, Moxon still wants Durham to do well this summer - as long as they finish up second best to Yorkshire.

He concedes, however, that Durham still holds a special place in his heart and that he remains very fond of the county.

"It is bound to be a special game for me because I spent six great years at Durham and have a lot of affection for them," he said.

"They were very happy times for me at Riverside and they made me feel very welcome and looked after me extremely well.

"But we are involved in a professional sport and I am here to win with Yorkshire now and hopefully our lads will put one over Durham.

"It promises to be an intriguing fixture because both sides have made a fantastic start to the season with convincing wins in both the Championship and the Friends Provident Trophy.

"Durham are an up-and-coming club with probably the best years still ahead of them but I still want Yorkshire to come out on top over the next few days. I would love to be able to say to Durham I am sorry we beat you!'"

The tremendous Championship victory at The Oval last week could not have got Yorkshire off to a better start and Moxon commented: "I am delighted that everything we talked about pre-season was put into practice in this game and worked so well.

"It was an amazing team performance and hopefully we have set the benchmark and shown everyone what we are capable of achieving."

Meanwhile, Pakistan and Yorkshire batsman Younus Khan has decided not to make himself available for next month's three-match series of one-day internationals against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi because he is still feeling the strain caused by Bob Woolmer's death and his country's early exit from the World Cup.

"I still love my country and do not see this decision as turning my back on it," said Younus. I will play for Pakistan again and play with pride but now is not the right time."