Byas out to confirm Yorkshire's credentials

Cricket

The Yorkshire captain, David Byas, is confident that his side's impressive drive towards their first County Championship since 1968 will continue. The leaders are unchanged to take on Leicestershire at Bradford today and the skipper only has to look at how his opponents' form has dipped to see it is vital to keep going.

"We are playing some excellent cricket and despite disappointments on the one-day front there is a lot of confidence in the dressing-room," he said.

"I was particularly pleased with our effort in beating Warwickshire at Headingley and I think we have proved we have what it takes to win the Championship."

Last year's champions, Warwickshire, are still well-placed in fourth but have injury worries going in to their homemeeting with Kent. Captain Dermot Reeve is doubtful with a hip injury and wicketkeeper Keith Piper is also expected to miss out along with England opener Nick Knight.

On a happier note for the Edgbaston side, influential seamer Tim Munton is expected to return for his first game in six weeks and will hope to add penetration to an attack which struggled against the Yorkshire tail last week.

Visitors Kent have called in left-arm spinner Eddie Stanford to replace Min Patel, who is again on Test duty, but could still make a dash to play if left out of the starting England 11.

Meanwhile at Trent Bridge, Andrew Symonds will be out to impress after a quiet and injury-ridden start to the season for Gloucestershire. The 20-year-old has been hampered by an Achilles problem but should be ready to play, along with reserve keeper Richard Williams, who steps in for another man on Test duty, Jack Russell.

For Nottinghamshire, left-arm spinner Jimmy Hindson returns after a spell in the second team, where he is said to have regained the consistency that attracted attention earlier in his career.