AUSTRALIAN left-hander Matthew Elliott will be back with Yorkshire for the first few weeks of the new season as cover for Younis Khan who will still be playing for Pakistan in the World Cup.

Elliott, 35, hit a rich vein of form for Yorkshire when he joined them for the final few matches of 2002 as a replacement for fellow Aussie Darren Lehmann, who had to return home early to prepare for a Test series.

In five Championship appearances he struck 487 runs with one century and four half-centuries for an average of 54.11 but his real moment of glory came in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy final at Lord's when his unbeaten 128 charged Yorkshire to victory over Somerset by six wickets.

Elliott returned to Headingley the following season but a combination of a long-standing knee injury and serious family illness resulted in him going back to Australia in May without having played a match.

During his Test career, Elliott played 21 times for Australia, his biggest knock being 199 against England at Headingley in 1997. It was an innings which helped him become one of Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year the following year.

"I will only be with Yorkshire for a few weeks at the start of the season but I am determined to play my part and put runs on the board," said Elliott.

"The club have taken some knocks over the past few weeks but I am confident that good times are ahead and I am pleased I can make a contribution."

Elliott will join up with Yorkshire at the beginning of April in preparation for the opening championship match against Surrey at The Oval, starting on April 19.

Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan confirmed that Yorkshire would be signing another batsman as well as a further player before the start of the season.