Yorkshire's young players are to be given the chance to press their claims on the club's pre-season tour of Australia.

Five of their senior colleagues will be resting at home after their winter exertions with England in South Africa.

Skipper David Byas will lead a squad of 15 on the tour which begins on March 10. It includes seven one-day games and two matches over a longer period.

Ripon-born opening batsman John Inglis, 20, will be eager to show he is worth a try-out at first team level.

Other youngsters determined to make an impact include 22-year-old Doncaster batsman Simon Widdup and two 18-year-olds in wicketkeeper Matthew Thewlis, from Barnsley, and seamer Greg Lambert, from Castleford.

Pudsey Congs off-spinner Jam-es Middlebrook will be trying to win back the place he lost to left-armer Ian Fisher after breaking his finger at the start of last season and all-rounder Gary Fellows will be keen to hold on to the regular first team spot he secured towards the end of the summer.

Director of coaching Martyn Moxon said he had spoken to Gavin Hamilton to see if he wanted to join the squad in view of the limited amount of cricket he had played with England in South Africa, but the all-rounder indicated he would prefer to take a break .

"It is quite understandable that he should want a few weeks off and we look forward to him returning fully refreshed and ready to go," said Moxon.

"It has been frustrating for Gavin kicking his heels so much and I hope he is given the chance to play now that England have moved on to Zimbabwe for the series of one-dayers.

"It is a young squad we are taking to Australia but we are still not sure who will be involved with England this summer. It is quite possible that several of our youngsters may have to be brought into the first team, so we need to take a look at them before the season begins."

Moxon said Yorkshire are still working on trying to remodel Paul Hutchison's action in the hope that the left-arm swing bowler will not suffer further back damage. He may be fit for the start of the season.

Yorkshire's squad: David Byas, Richard Blakey, Richard Harden, Paul Hutchison, Anthony McGrath, Gary Fellows, Ian Fisher, Matthew Hoggard, James Middlebrook, Ryan Sidebottom, Matthew Wood, John Inglis, Matthew Thewlis, Simon Widdup, Greg Lambert.

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