DARREN Gough contacted Yorkshire yesterday and asked if he could be rested from Wednesday's day-night match against Warwickshire Bears at Headingley.

That was the first indication that Gough was contemplating his future.

England's new captain Michael Vaughan and his county skipper Anthony McGrath are both playing in the game and although Gough was also available he did not wish to be considered. He is expected to be available for Yorkshire's squad for the County Championship game against Worcestershire which starts at Scarborough next Wednesday.

Yorkshire are rubbing their hands at the return of Vaughan and McGrath because their presence should substantially boost the gate, particularly as the hot weather is due to continue.

Even more importantly, the England pair may be able to get Phoenix back to winning ways in a last ditch effort to avoid relegation to the Second Division of the National League.

So far they have lost seven out of nine games and are glued to the bottom of the First Division table.

Gavin Hamilton has been included in a squad of 14 but the return of McGrath could mean there is no room for out-of-form Indian left-hander Yuvraj Singh who was axed from the Championship game against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham last week and only managed five in the National League clash with the Gladiators on Sunday.

Yorkshire Phoenix from: Wood, Fleming, Vaughan, Lumb, White, McGrath, Yuvraj Singh, Hamilton, Craven, Blakey, Gray, Silverwood, Kirby, Bresnan.

Updated: 14:09 Tuesday, August 05, 2003