Hassall acknowledged after Saturday's surprisingly tranquil annual meeting at Leeds Town Hall that two major obstacles remain to be overcome before the green light can be given for work on their new state-of-the-art home to begin.

First, Wakefield Council have to raise the money, mainly through a National Lottery contribution of #27 million and a Sports Council grant of #8 million.

And secondly, Yorkshire must negotiate an escape route from their lease at Headingley, which has another 84 years to run.

Paul Caddick, Headingley's new owner, insists that he is prepared to go to law to enforce the terms of the lease.

``I must stress that the move to Wakefield has so far only been agreed in principle,'' said Hassall.

Applications for the necessary funding will be made in the near future although it may be the end of the year before Yorkshire know whether they have the cash to turn what Hassall described as ``our vision'' into reality.

Australian Test batsman Michael Slater will succeed his compatriot Michael Bevan as the county's overseas player next season.

England opener Nick Knight is hoping his broken finger will have healed in time for Warwickshire's opening County Championship match against Glamorgan at Cardiff on April 23.

Warwickshire are planning to introduce floodlit cricket with a day-night experiment at one of their AXA Equity and Law League fixtures in mid-summer.

The England and Wales Cricket Board have approved the scheme and the club are undertaking a feasibility study to bring in four huge cranes from which the lighting would be suspended.

The Scarborough Cricket Festival will from this year be staged in July, instead of in September, to get better gates and better takings.