Yorkshire's new recruit Richard Harden broke a bone in his left hand at Headingley yesterday and is expected to be out of action for at least a month.

The 33-year-old former Somer-set batsman was struck by a wicked delivery from Gloucester-shire paceman Jon Lewis which lifted sharply off a length and evaded the special protection which Harden wears on the side of his glove.

Harden, who flung off his glove in frustration, was taken to hospital for an X-ray which revealed the break and later in the day he visited a specialist for a further diagnosis of the injury.

"I'm absolutely devastated that this should happen in my debut match for Yorkshire," said Har-den, who was eagerly anticipating a return visit to Somerset next week and making a big score against his former county.

"I am really enjoying myself with Yorkshire and, after a pretty successful pre-season tour of South Africa with them, I was confident of making an impact.

"I was happy with my batting in the first innings of this game, but unfortunately I cannot play balls which do what this one did. You accept getting hit on the bottom hand, but to get smashed on the top hand is not what you would expect."

Harden has a history of hand injuries and two seasons ago he broke a bone while batting against Leicestershire at the Bath Fes-tival in June and did not play again all season. He had hoped to resume later that summer, but broke the bone again during a benefit game.

Last summer, Harden was res-tricted to 11 championship games because of a hamstring injury and his hopes of a full season with Yorkshire this year have now been dashed.

Yorkshire managed only 90 minutes play yesterday morning before the rain set in and, al-though they remain in a fairly strong position, they were badly rattled by Lewis's lethal spell in which he claimed the three second innings wickets to fall, as well as injuring Harden.

Australian Greg Blewett failed for the second time on his county debut when he was unable to avoid contact with a good ball which moved across him, and Michael Vaughan also disappointed again by being pinned lbw. David Byas popped back a catch, and at 37 for three Yorkshire's overall lead was exactly 150.

Matthew Wood and Craig White eased fears of a complete collapse, however, with some assured batting and put on an invaluable 34 before the rain came.

lYorkshire Phoenix blaze a trail for the first time in Division One of the new CGU National League tomorrow when they enter the Headingley arena against Glou-cestershire Gladiators.

The competition replaces the AXA League, and the 45-overs-a-side contest starts at 1.30pm and is due to finish by 7.40pm.

"With the bottom three teams in Division One being relegated at the end of the season, it is vitally important that we get off to a positive start and stay high up the table throughout the summer," said skipper David Byas.

Yorkshire have already worn their orange Phoenix shirts when they played Western Province under the Newlands floodlights on their pre-season tour of South Africa, but unfortunately they plunged to defeat.

With all their first team squad keen for cricket, Phoenix will choose from 14, and almost certain to play is Anthony McGrath, who has made a magnificent start to the season in club cricket, scoring centuries on consecutive days last weekend for Bradford League side East Bierley.

He is set to replace the injured Richard Harden and will be keen to make a big impression now there is such competition for places.

Yorkshire (v Gloucestershire) from: Blewett, Vaughan, Byas, Wood, McGrath, White, Blakey, Hamilton, Gough, Sidebottom, Hog-gard, Silverwood, Middlebrook, Fellows.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.