Rich Pyrah is putting the finishing touches to his recovery from a broken hand by playing for Yorkshire’s second team this week.

The former Bradford League all-rounder has been sidelined since the second day of the current campaign (April 6) when he broke his left hand in a fielding accident during the drawn four-day match against Kent at Headingley.

Pyrah, 29, has already been back on the park for club side Ossett in the Central Yorkshire League.

Now some second-team cricket against Durham, starting tomorrow at York, could put him in the frame to play in Sunday’s Clydesdale Bank 40 match against the Unicorns at Scarborough.

Yorkshire first-team coach Jason Gillespie confirmed: “Richie has been training and played a club game. He’s going to play in the seconds this week.

“We haven’t considered him for selection yet because we want to make sure he gets some time out in the middle and gets some cricket.

“This week he’s got some second-team cricket and he gets a chance to get some time at the bowling crease. We want to give him every chance to be successful.

“We’re really keen to get him some cricket in the second team first, as much for him to know in the back of his mind that he can get through games of cricket.”

Although Pyrah’s place in Yorkshire’s one-day and Twenty20 sides looks assured upon his return, he may have to work a bit harder to force his way back into their Championship line-up.

Anthony McGrath has slotted in well down the order, performing well with both bat and ball in recent weeks, while Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has yet to make his debut, which will come against Northamptonshire at Headingley next week.

Yorkshire’s next 40-over outing is against Sussex at Hove on Thursday, a televised match played under the lights.