YORKSHIRE will equal their worst start to a Championship season in 12 years if Hampshire pull off a repeat performance at Headingley over the next four days, writes David Warner.

The title-holders last lost their first three matches in 1990 and it became four defeats in a row when Hampshire beat them by five wickets at Headingley in late May.

Now Hampshire are looking to bring about a similar result this time and plunge Yorkshire into even deeper trouble.

Since lifting the Championship in those golden days of last August, Yorkshire have plunged to five consecutive defeats and the last time they did that was in 1889 when they went on to lose seven on the trot.

Yorkshire had something else to worry them today as captain Darren Lehmann reported a sore knee following Wednesday's thrashing by Essex in the Benson and Hedges Cup.

Lehmann was expecting to shrug off the injury but he would not make up his mind for sure until shortly before this morning's toss.

Former Harrogate and Scarborough batsman, Vic Craven, now with Bradford League club Pudsey Congs, was standing by as possible cover in case Lehmann misses out.

Yorkshire were able to include Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard after England's late decision to allow their players to take part in the current round of county matches, but Hoggard needs to bowl much better than he did against Essex when he was murdered by England captain Nasser Hussain.

The assault was so vicious that one wonders if Hussain has temporarily lost faith in Hoggard and there must be a question mark over the fast bowler's inclusion in the squad for the second Test against Sri Lanka when it is announced this weekend.

Having Hoggard in the side, however, leaves Yorkshire with a little more time in which to let Ryan Sidebottom recover completely from his back strain and his next outing could be against Devon in the third round of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy at Exmouth next Wednesday.

Yorkshire from: Wood, Vaughan, White, Lumb, Lehmann, McGrath, Blakey, Fellows, Silverwood, Sidebottom, Hoggard, Dawson, Kirby, Craven.

Updated: 11:38 Friday, May 24, 2002