DARREN Gough will not now take part in Yorkshire's crucial Championship clash with Second Division leaders Worcestershire which starts at the Scarborough Cricket Festival tomorrow.

Yorkshire had confidently expected Gough to be with them for the remainder of season after he announced his retirement from Test cricket last week and his name was initially pencilled in for the Worcestershire match.

But when Gough arrived at Headingley for nets yesterday morning he said he needed more rehab time to strengthen his knee and did not feel ready for Scarborough.

The news came as something of a bombshell because Yorkshire will be without Ryan Sidebottom, who has sprained his ankle, and they cannot call on either Tim Bresnan or Nick Thornicroft who are both in the England Under-19s team which is playing South Africa Under-19s in the second Test at Worcester.

Yorkshire's director of cricket, Geoff Cope, said: "Darren has played a lot and now is the time to make sure he is right and feels confident.

"He was worried after the Lord's Test that his body was not responding as his head wanted it to and we have decided that he needs more remedial work."

Gough is unlikely to fancy the flat Colwyn Bay pitch when Yorkshire play Glamorgan in the Championship from August 25-28 and there is a feeling he may not turn out in a four-day encounter until Yorkshire take on Somerset at Headingley on September 3.

Indian Yuvraj Singh remains sidelined because of poor form and will play for the Seconds in their three-day game against Sussex Seconds at Horsham starting tomorrow, but Gavin Hamilton has lost his place despite scoring 68 on his return to Championship cricket at Cheltenham in the last match.

With Yorkshire almost certainly playing two spinners tomorrow, there isn't room for both Hamilton and Vic Craven in the side together but Craven is preferred because he is increasingly making an impression with his medium pacers whereas Hamilton still lacks the confidence to turn his arm over.

Coming into the squad of 12 for the first time is Scarborough-born all-rounder Chris Gilbert who is on the Academy staff and has represented England at Youth level, but he is expected to be carrying the drinks.

Yorkshire from: Wood, Fleming, McGrath, Lumb, Craven, White, Guy, Gray, Silverwood, Kirby, Dawson, Gilbert.

Updated: 11:17 Tuesday, August 12, 2003