Yorkshire have arranged practice matches against Durham and Lancashire as part of their build-up to the new season.

They will travel to Riverside on April 6 and 7 and on April 14 they will engage in a one-day Roses battle at Old Trafford.

Yorkshire's season officially opens with a three-day match against Bradford-Leeds Universities' Centre of Excellence, which starts at Headingley on Easter Saturday, April 10, but their Championship programme does not begin until April 21, which is later than several other counties.

"It is important that we get in some cricket against first-class opposition before the Championship begins and I am very happy with what has been arranged," said director of cricket, David Byas.

"We need to have some away practice games because if further warm-ups are required we can arrange them between ourselves at Headingley."

Byas does not see it as a handicap that Yorkshire are again without a pre-season tour this year.

"We have got excellent facilities at Headingley and will be making full use of them," he said.

"If it rains a lot in March and April it can be frustrating but when the weather is as good as it was in the early Spring last year you are able to have the ideal build-up in home conditions."

Byas is hoping Yorkshire will be just as ruthless at Old Trafford as Lancashire were on their first visit to Headingley after Byas had joined them for the 2002 season.

Yorkshire were routed for 81 in 27.2 overs in a Benson and Hedges Cup match and Lancashire knocked off the runs in 10.5 overs for the loss of two wickets.

Paceman Steve Kirkby, Yorkshire's leading wicket-taker last season with 67 first-class dismissals, has been chosen by England to attend a training camp run by Dennis Lillee in India next month.

Kirby was at the England Academy in 2001-02 and before Christmas he had specialist coaching at Loughborough on a non-residential basis.

He will be going to India with Worcestershire fast bowler Kabir Ali, who also took 67 wickets for his county last season.

The pair will be accompanied by England fast bowling coach, Troy Cooley.