Three of Yorkshire's heroes - Fred Trueman, Raymond Illingworth and Geoff Boycott - will not attend the opening of the new West Stand at Headingley on August 15 by former Prime Minister John Major.

But former Yorkshire and England captain Brian Close, who led the county to their last Championship title in 1968, said he would be at the ceremony.

The reason is that the trio all think it would have been appropriate to have invited a Yorkshireman rather than Major, president of Surrey.

Boycott has already let it be known that he would have given his support to Yorkshire if they had asked Trueman to perform the ceremony. During his time as Prime Minister, Major was often seen in the VIP enclosure at the Headingley Test match.

Meanwhile, former Yorkshire and England bowler Bob Appleyard is incensed that Yorkshire chief executive Chris Hassell had accused him of "racist implications" in remarks about how Asian women had been portrayed in gates at Headingley in memory of Sir Leonard Hutton.

"I am going to reflect on Mr Hassell's remarks for 24 hours before decided whether to take any further action," said Appleyard.