Cricket: Yorkshire were again frustrated by the weather at Headingley today.

Only 23 balls were possible on the opening day of their championship match against Derbyshire yesterday.

And it meant further anguish for Yorkshire who were hoping to build on their score of five for nought after choosing to bat.

Michael Vaughan was unbeaten on three but Anthony McGrath, who was out for a duck and three in the championship win over Somerset, had still to get off the mark.

England seamer Phil De-Freitas bowled two maidens and it was Derbyshire's new skipper Dominic Cork who Vaughan opened his account against.

Cork also sent down a no-ball to boost Yorkshire's total.

The previous night's storms had left the outfield in a saturated condition but pleasant weather during the morning helped the ground to dry out in time for a 2.20 start when 42 overs had been lost.

Rain threatened as soon as the players came out, however, and it was not long before it closed in.

Yorkshire showed just one change from the Somerset match with left-arm spinner Ian Fisher coming in for Richard Stemp who is having treatment on a thigh strain.

Fisher, who featured in Yorkshire's pre-season tour of South Africa when Stemp was ordered to stay at home, was clearly delighted to get another first team opportunity.

Stemp sustained the injury during pre-season training and aggravated it while fielding a ball on Saturday.

"I could have played if absolutely necessary but I decided it would be more sensible to declare myself unfit for this game in order to make a complete recovery," said Stemp.

"Conditions are not likely to assist spinners over the next few days and if there is such a thing as a convenient time to miss a game then I suppose this is it."

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