Victory is crucial for Yorkshire in their match against Warwickshire which starts at Scarborough today if they are to stay in the thick of the battle for the Championship title in what is turning out to be one of the most closely contested scraps in recent years.

Despite consecutive defeats by Lancashire and Worcestershire, they remain second in the Division One table but only Warwickshire have played as many matches.

Only two games remain after this - title holders and leaders Sussex at Hove and then Hampshire at Headingley Carnegie.

But Yorkshire's confidence has been boosted by their fine win over Glamorgan on Monday which took them to the top of the Second Division of the NatWest Pro40 League and they still believe they have enough in their tank to complete what would be a remarkable double.

Yorkshire are hoping that Inzamam-ul-Haq will be straight out of the blocks at North Marine Road on his introduction to county cricket but he will do well to come good after playing no competitive cricket since Pakistan were drummed out of the World Cup in March.

The former Pakistan captain is relishing the challenge, however, and he remains one of the best batsmen in the world.

Younus Khan has now packed his bags and returned to Pakistan after scoring 825 Championship runs for Yorkshire and the race is now on between Bradford-born Anthony McGrath and South African, Jacques Rudolph, to see who can be first to the 1,000 runs mark.

They go into the match virtually neck and neck with Rudolph on 834 at an average of 55.60 and McGrath on 822 at 48.35.

Warwickshire, meanwhile, will give Oxford paceman Stuart Hole his championship debut.

Michael Powell comes in at the expense of former England one-day batsman Jonathan Trott while seamers Lee Daggett and Adam Shantry are both likely to miss the remainder of the season with side strains.

New Derbyshire head of cricket John Morris is keeping his cards close to his chest as he prepares for his first game in charge against Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens.

The 43-year-old said: ''I will do things my way and some changes will be made.''