Matthew Hoggard is now unlikely to be fit for the Roses match starting at Headingley Carnegie on Thursday after complaining of further stiffness in his back.

The England fast bowler will not attempt to bowl again until Tuesday at the earliest and Yorkshire director of cricket Martyn Moxon admitted that Hoggard's chances of returning for the Lancashire encounter were not good.

Even had Hoggard been fit, England were not expected to include him in the squad for the final Test against India at The Oval on Thursday.

Yorkshire had hoped the paceman would be available to give them an extra boost as they step up their bid to win the County Championship title.

Ironically, Bradford League club Baildon would have liked Hoggard to try out his fitness in their crunch match with Pudsey Congs at Jenny Lane tomorrow.

But even before news of his latest setback, they were unable to include him in the side because of a league rule which makes him ineligible for the match.

The rule states: Players contracted to play cricket outside the Bradford Cricket League with a County or Minor Counties club may be allowed to play in the league as long as they are registered as a player at the start of the season and play before June 30."

Hoggard, who used to play for Pudsey Congs, now lives in Baildon and has been attached to the club for several years but he has not managed to turn out for them this season.

"The rule is quite clear and although Baildon wanted to ask Hoggard to play I think they were quite aware of the situation and accepted it," said Bradford League chief executive Bob Shackleton.

Yorkshire are going through a difficult time at the moment, what with Hoggard's problems and the news they will be without Younus Khan throughout September and Jason Gillespie for a week later this month.

They have also now lost their place at the top of Division One of the Championship for the first time this season following Sussex's 108-run win over Lancashire at Liverpool today.

But they are only three points below the title holders and everything is pointing to a massive showdown when they play Sussex at Hove, starting on September 5, in the penultimate match of the season.