Yorkshire have dropped wicketkeeper-batsman Ismail Dawood for the crunch match against championship Division Two leaders Durham at Scarborough tomorrow, and have replaced him with Simon Guy.

The 29-year-old Dewsbury-born player has been an ever-present in all competitive first team matches since Yorkshire signed him from Leeds-Bradford Universities' Centre of Excellence in July, 2004, when Guy himself was going through a bad patch.

Dawood, who plays Bradford League cricket for Cleckheaton, has taken 36 catches in championship matches so far this season and has scored 326 runs at an average of 21.73.

But director of cricket David Byas said Guy had forced his way back with some excellent performances for the Second XI.

"Guy has been keeping outstandingly well by all accounts and has scored two big hundreds in recent games," said Byas.

"I feel very sorry for Ismail and I am full of admiration for the way he prepared himself for this season and got himself superbly fit but you have to pick the man you think is in the best form on the day and I believe Guy deserves his chance.

"Last summer it was Guy who had to stand down because of poor form but he also has worked hard at his game and is doing very well at the moment.

"Michael Lumb was dropped a few weeks ago because he was not scoring many runs and he fought his way back into the side. You can only field what you think is your strongest team."

Yorkshire's Australian all-rounder Ian Harvey continues to improve after breaking his right thumb over three weeks ago and he is included in the squad of 12 but Yorkshire will not name their side until shortly before the start. This is a massive game for both Durham, who lead second-placed Essex by 13 points, and Yorkshire, who are 14.5 points behind the leaders but with a game in hand over the two teams above them. Lancashire, however, are only two-and-a-half points adrift of Yorkshire, also with a game in hand over the top two, while Worcestershire, too, are very much in the promotion hunt.

Yorkshire from: Wood, Sayers, McGrath, Jaques, Lumb, Harvey, White, Bresnan, Dawson, Guy, Blain, Kruis.

l Yorkshire Phoenix's Twenty20 friendly match against Durham Dynamos had to be called off at the Scarborough Cricket Festival yesterday because of bad

weather. The weather was fine by the scheduled starting time but heavy morning rain had left the ground saturated.