England have given Chris Silverwood a resounding vote of confidence by making him 12th man for the second Test against South Africa which begins at Lord's on Thursday.

But the decision to name the paceman as 12th man rather than include him in the squad, dismayed Yorkshire fans at Headingley yesterday who did not relish the prospect of the strike bowler standing idly by while their injury-hit team were starting a championship match with Durham at Riverside on Wednesday.

The likelihood is that Silverwood will be given an early release by England in order to play for Yorkshire - provided none of the England team report injured on Tuesday.

Yorkshire contacted England's chairman of selectors, David Graveney, as soon as it was announced Silverwood was in the Lord's party, and they are confident their player will be freed if he is not required.

It is unusual for England specifically to name someone as 12th man rather than being in the 12 and Yorkshire understandably received the news, like their fans, with mixed feelings.

Their current championship match with Hampshire, in which Silverwood blasted out five batsmen for 13 runs in the first innings, is only his second first class game since being out for three weeks with sore shins.

If Silverwood stays with England this week and does not play, therefore, he will have only one further first class game before the third Test at Old Trafford starting on July 2 - and that is against the less than demanding Cambridge University.

Also, Yorkshire do not want to be without Silverwood unnecessarily against Durham when they will also be missing Darren Gough and Craig White who are both injured.

It is their private view, too, and possibly Silverwood's, that he is not quite ready yet for Test cricket and needs another couple of games at county level to work his way back to peak fitness.

Silverwood replaced Gough on England's tour of the West Indies last winter but never got into the Test side and their decision to make him 12th man now is their way of saying he has not been forgotten.

After hearing the news of his unusual call-up yesterday, Silverwood said: "I didn't think I would get picked for the Lord's Test because I am still short of cricket since returning from shin soreness but I am delighted to know that I am still a part of England's future plans.

"I am looking forward to meeting up with the lads on Tuesday and I will be equally as pleased if it is then agreed to release me so that I can play for Yorkshire.

"I would certainly like to be bowling either for England or Yorkshire this week and if it is for Yorkshire then I am sure it will make me even better prepared should I be chosen for the third Test at Old Trafford."

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