Yorkshire go into the new season knowing they will be without three – and possibly four – of their frontline players for much of the summer.

Darren Gough, Michael Vaughan and Craig White will all play a major part in England's Test matches against Pakistan and Australia during the summer, and now Matthew Hoggard has joined the trio on the illustrious list of centrally contracted players. An injury to one of England's first-choice bowlers could see Hoggard disappearing from Headingley as well.

All of this increases the challenge for the county's new coach, Wayne Clark. He will be endeavouring to improve on Yorkshire's third position in the County Championship last year, a difficult task considering the teams above them were Surrey and Lancashire.

Clark comes from Western Australia to replace Martyn Moxon who moved to Durham as coach during the winter. Clark played ten Tests for Australia in the 1970s, and will be looking to fellow countryman Darren Lehmann to repeat his feats of 2000, in which he made nearly 1,500 first-class runs.

Considering that Yorkshire suffered injuries last season to key fast bowlers Paul Hutchinson, Chris Silverwood and Ryan Sidebottom, as well as sustaining the loss of the England trio, they did well to finish as high as they did in the County Championship and second in Division One of the National League.

Off the field, this season will see the launch of Headingley's new £4m West Stand, which will be officially opened by former Prime Minister John Major on Wednesday 15 August before the Fourth Test Match between England and Australia.

This first phase of a larger £10 million development incorporates 8,500 seats and will set new standards for the future with excellent sight lines, wider seats and ample legroom. Improved entrances are also included along with modern toilets and refreshment facilities.

Squad: R Blakey, D Byas (captain), V Craven, R Dawson, G Fellows, I Fisher, D Gough, S Guy, G Hamilton, M Hoggard, P Hutchison, D Lehmann, M Lumb, A McGrath, J Middlebrook, R Sidebottom, C Silverwood, M Vaughan, C White, S Widdup, M Wood.

Overseas: Darren Lehmann (Australia).

In: None.

Out: C Ellison, R Harden, J Inglis, R Stead, M Thewlis.

© CricInfo Ltd.