Greg Blewett's omission from Australia's World Cup squad means that he will now have a full season with Yorkshire and is due to arrive at Headingley in the second week of April.

Yorkshire skipper David Byas said today that he was 'thrilled' at the news and he also expressed delight that Gavin Hamilton, ignored by England, had now been included in Scotland's World Cup party.

Blewett recently forced his way back into Australia's Test team and is currently on their tour of the Caribbean.

It had been feared that this would cause him to miss Yorkshire's opening championship match against Gloucestershire at Headingley but he will now return home immediately after the Test series and Australia will pack their side with World Cup players for the one-day internationals against the West Indies.

Byas, who learned of Blewett's availability during Yorkshire's first day back for training at Headingley yesterday, said: "I am disappointed for Greg personally that he will not figure in Australia's World Cup plans but I am absolutely thrilled that this means he will be with us from ball one.

"England physiotherapist Wayne Morton says that he has spoken a lot to Greg this winter and he has assured us that Greg is looking forward immensely to joining Yorkshire.

"We will all now have the chance to meet up with him at Headingley once our pre-season tour of South Africa is over."

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