Yorkshire prepare to recoup losses

There was a steely air to Yorkshire's pre-season lunch at Headingley yesterday. Under new management, but £7m in the red, the county – who won the Championship in 2001 only to be relegated last summer – have a mountainous climb to win back public affection.

There was a steely air to Yorkshire's pre-season lunch at Headingley yesterday. Under new management, but £7m in the red, the county – who won the Championship in 2001 only to be relegated last summer – have a mountainous climb to win back public affection.

There will not be a second overseas professional to aid Matt Elliott, saving money. Richard Blakey will gradually give up his gauntlets to Simon Guy and revert to specialist batsman. Matthew Wood, 26, is the new vice-captain to Anthony McGrath and from the way Darren Gough was running in during yesterday's practice match there is every probability that he will return tomorrow.

Yorkshire have an embarrassment of riches against Northamptonshire. The only real query for their Second Division campaign is how much they will miss Australia's contracted Darren Lehmann.

* Zimbabwe will play two Tests on their forthcoming tour of England, starting at Lord's on 22 May, and a one-day international tournament against the hosts and South Africa beginning on 26 June.

ZIMBABWE SQUAD (to tour England): *H H Streak (capt), T Taibu (vice-capt), G W Flower, D D Ebrahim, M A Vermeulen, B G Rogers, S M Ervine, A M Blignaut, M L Nkala, S V Carlisle, R W Price, T J Friend, V Sibanda, D T Hondo.