YORKSHIRE are furious that Matthew Hoggard was barred by England from playing in the county's opening Benson and Hedges Cup match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge yesterday - but allowed to turn out for Bradford League side Baildon over the weekend.

Now Yorkshire chairman Keith Moss has complained to the England and Wales Cricket Board and asked for an explanation.

Moss, who is also president of Pudsey St Lawrence, was astonished when he turned up at Tofts Road on Saturday to see Hoggard pacing out his run to open the bowling for Baildon.

"I was absolutely staggered that England should let him play for his league side but refuse to allow him to bowl ten overs for Yorkshire," said Moss.

"It is a ludicrous situation and we need to know why England are allowing this sort of thing to happen.

"I have absolutely no complaint against Matthew who is eager to bowl for Yorkshire but is prohibited from doing so and was glad of the opportunity to play for Baildon."

Moss said he had contacted David Morgan, chairman of the ECB's First Class Forum, who was equally puzzled by the situation and had promised to look into the matter.

After touring India and New Zealand with England last winter and playing in both the Test and one-day series, Hoggard was ordered to take a rest and not play for Yorkshire until next Saturday when they take on Derbyshire at Derby in the B&H.

Yorkshire managed to win without Hoggard yesterday, recording a two-run victory in their opening B&H game against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge yesterday under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Meanwhile, the Bradford League beat Yorkshire ECB Premier League by four wickets at Pudsey in the final of the Costcutter Inter League Cup which was postponed from last year.

Updated: 08:58 Monday, April 29, 2002