Problems pile up for Yorkshire after crushing defeat

Nottinghamshire 393 & 269-8 Yorkshire 164 & 254 Notts win by 244 runs

Out of Africa came good news for the beleaguered Tykes. The re-arrangement of Australia's tour schedule means Darren Lehmann and Ian Harvey could be back to Yorkshire in time to play at Chelmsford on 2 June. The bad news...well, where do you start?

Harvey flies out to Zimbabwe today with a hamstring strain that has severely limited his county bowling. Neither Chris Silverwood (ankle) nor Steve Kirby (back strain) are near fitness, John Blain can not bowl for at least a fortnight with a calf strain and Yorkshire may have to go into their tricky Cheltenham and Gloucester third-round tie against Devon, at Exmouth next Wednesday, without a capped bowler unless England release Matthew Hoggard.

The only sliver of a silver lining from this crushing defeat was the 13 overs from Craig White, the best spell he has managed for two summers, and occasionally, on Thursday evening, he showed a touch of his old venom.Otherwise Yorkshire were totally outclassed. Even their batting, expected to be their strength, was made to look lacking in both confidence and technique. This pitch looked twice as difficult when Yorkshire were batting, always an indication of inferiority.

Nottinghamshire, in contrast, look out of place in the Second Division. They are well balanced with seam, swing and spin in their bowling and a long proficient batting order with capable all-rounders.

Nottinghamshire had a lead of 423, which they extended to 498 without undue effort yesterday morning before going on to win the match inside three days with 19 overs to spare.