Yorkshire's pair of Bradford League spin bowlers James Middlebrook and Ian Fisher will spend 18 days in Adelaide later this winter getting expert coaching from Australia's former leading off-spinner Ashley Mallett.

A generous donation towards their costs has been given by the Yorkshire Cricket Supporters' Association and a county member in the south has also made a contribution.

Several other Yorkshire players who are getting experience abroad during the close season are also paying from their own pockets in order to make the trips.

East Bierley's Fisher and Pudsey Congs' Middlebrook, who only had his contract renewed by Yorkshire after taking ten wickets in the final game of the season against Hampshire at Southampton, will leave for Australia on January 26.

Mallett, now 55, was Australia's most successful spinner of his generation, and worked with all Yorkshire's spinners for a time at Headingley last season.

"We were very impressed with his work and we think a couple of weeks with him in Australia will do James and Ian far more good than a lot of indoor net sessions over here," said Yorkshire's director of coaching Martyn Moxon.

The pair will be greeted by a familiar face because Yorkshire's star overseas batsman Darren Lehmann is captain of South Australia. He and coach Greg Chappell have said the two visitors can join in the State side's net practices and also South Australian Academy sessions.

Fisher will have no time to let the dust settle under his feet when he returns home because on February 18 he sets off on a short tour of Sri Lanka with the MCC. He lands home again on March 6 and ten days later joins up with his Yorkshire colleagues on their pre-season tour of Pretoria and Cape Town.

Also flying out to Australia next month are Bradford-born Anthony McGrath and Huddersfield product Matthew Wood. They are bound for Perth where they will be coached by former South African Test batsman Peter Carlstein and play grade cricket for Wanneroo.

Left-arm fast bowler Paul Hutchison flies to Perth on January 2 and will play grade cricket for West Perth. It will be ideal preparation for Hutchison whose career with Yorkshire could be under threat if injury again prevents him from playing a full part next season.

Since then, Hutchison has trained hard and is now fully fit again but with money tight Yorkshire want to see him producing the goods on a regular basis from now on. Hutchison, too, appreciates the importance of Perth and is paying his own air fares.

All-rounder Gary Fellows and left-hander Vic Craven are currently in Melbourne, Fellows playing grade cricket for Spotswood and Craven for Deep Dene Bears, while Simon Widdup is enjoying club cricket in Perth.

Spen Victoria-reared pace bowler Tom Baker, who was called up as cover for Yorkshire at Canterbury late last season, returns home shortly from Cape Town where he has enjoyed a spell with Edgemead CC.