Darren Gough's hopes of playing for Yorkshire when they begin their defence of the County Championship against strong rivals Surrey at Headingley next Wednesday have been dashed.

And with Anthony McGrath almost certainly out of the reckoning and Craig White doubtful with a groin strain, Yorkshire look like being forced to field a seriously weakened side.

Gough joined up with Yorkshire for full-time training at Headingley last week but has so far been unable to bowl because he has not yet fully recovered from an operation on the cartilage which he damaged in England's final one-day international with New Zealand in Dunedin over a month ago.

Coach Wayne Clark's aim now is to build up Gough for the first Benson and Hedges Cup game against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on April 28.

McGrath is recovering only slowly from a serious groin strain and may have to find form in the second team before coming into contention while White's groin strain is proving more troublesome than originally thought.

With Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard both barred by England from the Surrey match, Clark and new captain Darren Lehmann will have to think long and hard about the batting line-up if McGrath and White are also sidelined.

Either Chris Taylor or Scott Richardson looks set to open with Matthew Wood with Michael Lumb favourite to come in at No 3 followed by Lehmann, but the question of who will go in at No 5 is as yet unanswered. Gary Fellows or Gavin Hamilton could be promoted up the order or the job could be given to Vic Craven who has never let Yorkshire down.

Yorkshire were today playing their Second XI over two days at Headingley and Clark will decide during the match the composition of the side for the three-day game against Bradford-Leeds Universities' Centre of Excellence which begins on Saturday at the same venue. This match was originally due to start on Friday but was put back to prevent a clash with rugby.

Lehmann arrives from Australia on Friday but is not expected to play an active part until the Surrey fixture.

Updated: 12:01 Wednesday, April 17, 2002