Yorkshire had cause of their own to celebrate yesterday after hearing that fast bowler Matthew Hoggard has been given a six month summer contract by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Soon after making the announcement, the ECB contacted Yorkshire and informed them that although Hoggard will rest up on his return home, he will be able to turn out for his county from May 1 until he joins up with the England squad again on May 16.

Yorkshire had feared that they would see little of England's hat-trick hero this summer but now they can look forward to his services during an important early part of the season.

"It is tremendous news and I have to applaud the professionalism of England who have wasted no time in letting us know just when he will be available," said director of cricket David Byas. "To have him back so soon should give us a real boost."

Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Graham Thorpe have also been given summer contracts.

The splendid showing showing by England in the Caribbean and Brian Lara's epic 400 have boosted interest in the one-day international between England and the West Indies which will take place under the Headingley floodlights on July 1.

Only around 2,000 tickets remain and Yorkshire are confident of a 15,550 sell-out.

England meet New Zealand in the Test at Headingley which starts on June 3.

Yorkshire's two Australian players, Darren Lehmann and Ian Harvey, have arrived at Headingley and yesterday was spent working out in the gymnasium. They will meet the media at the club's photoshoot today before preparing for next Wednesday's opening Championship match of the season against Essex at Headingley.

* Duncan Fletcher has re-issued his plea for his ECB employers to allow him a centrally contracted squad of around 20 players if he is build on England's successful Test series in West Indies.

Ever since Fletcher was appointed England coach in 1999, he has been urging the ECB to follow similar systems implemented in Australia and South Africa and establish a squad of contracted players that he can work with and control the amount of cricket they play.

Four members of England's successful Caribbean squad were given deals yesterday, but his squad of 12 is still a long way short of his ideal number.

''I've always wanted a squad of 20, I think it's important,'' he said.