YORKSHIRE are not planning for James Middlebrook to return to the county next season as they look to fill the gap left by Adil Rashid should his international commitments continue.

Although the door has not been completely shut on the 38-year-old New Farnley off-spinner, the county champions are keen to look to the future with left-armer Karl Carver and non-contracted leggie Tom Craddock.

After Carver played the first LV= County Championship match of last season, he was sent back to the seconds to continue his red ball development and Middlebrook signed to fill in for Bradfordian Rashid.

Middlebrook, however, has his heart set on a post-playing career in umpiring, and is spending time officiating in Australia this winter.

Should he be needed by Yorkshire, a decision will be made at a later date.

Former Essex spinner Craddock, who played second XI cricket for home county Yorkshire during the most recent summer, is also spending his winter Down Under playing grade cricket.

Yorkshire’s director of professional cricket Martyn Moxon explained: “James has got his future to think about. He wants to get on the umpiring circuit. He’s going away this winter to umpire in Australia for a while, and there’s other bits and pieces he wants to try and do.

“The problem is that to train with us, he has to put the rest on hold, and I don’t think that’s fair just in case we need him.

“At this moment in time, we’re wanting Karl Carver and Tom Craddock to come through and take Rash’s place when we need them to. That would be ideal.

“If that doesn’t happen, we will have to look at Plan B.”

Craddock, 26, was released by Essex at the end of 2014 after playing 18 first-class matches, but the county champions believe he has a county future.

A product of the Leeds/Bradford MCCU system, he has 41 first-class wickets to his name and took five in an Ashes warm-up match for Essex against England in 2013.

Moxon added: “Tom hasn’t signed a contract. He had three separate injuries last summer, so didn’t play as much as he or we would have liked. He trained with us all last winter in a purely expenses situation.

“We think he’s got something, which he showed at Essex. We’re hoping he has a productive, injury-free winter in Australia and comes back to join us in pre-season. Then we’ll see where we’re at with him.”

Meanwhile, Yorkshire are waiting for international schedules and IPL commitments to be finalised before confirming their overseas signing for the new season.

The county are planning to have one player for all competitions for as much of the season as possible.