Yorkshire are keeping their fingers tightly crossed for a big improvement in the weather today as they preparefor their first meeting with Dorset in the second round of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy at Bournemouth.

It is 18 years since Yorkshire last played at Dean Park in a Championship match against Hampshire, and although today's contest can run into a second day if necessary because of rain, the Tykes will be eager to get things wrapped up as quickly as possible.

Dorset reached the second round by virtue of beating Buckinghamshire 4-1 in a bowl-out after rain washed out play just when Dorset were about to reply to their opponents' 272 for six.

With Yorkshire's bowlers too often bowling wide of the stumps this season, they would not relish a similar situation arising in this game.

Having lost their first two totesport League games by wide margins, Yorkshire were relieved to lift themselves off the bottom of the table by beating Scotland on Sunday, and they are looking to the Dorset match as another means of improving their form before they meet county opposition again.

Director of Cricket, David Byas, is taking nothing for granted, however, and he is well aware how easy it is to trip up against lesser opponents with nothing to lose on what is one of their biggest days of the season.

"We want to have a good run in the C&G and we just cannot afford to take Dorset lightly," said Byas. "We must be on our guard all the time and play the best cricket we can."

With Australian Ian Harvey out injured and Matthew Hoggard made unavailable by England, 19-year-old paceman Nick Thornicroft travelled to Bournemouth keen to get the chance of making his first appearance of the season.

Byas promised before the season began that there would be no shortage of opportunities for younger players and if Thornicroft does well it could help him secure a permanent place in the side because none of his pace colleagues have so far covered themselves in glory.

The weather has left them short of match practice and there is little cricket over the next few days in which to get their rhythm back.

Yorkshire play Somerset at Taunton in the totesport League on Sunday and their next game after that is the Championship clash with Hampshire, which begins a week today at Headingley. Hopefully, Steve Kirby will have recovered from his knee injury by then.

Yorkshire (v Dorset) from: Wood, White, Lumb, Lehmann, Taylor, Craven, Bresnan, Dawson, Guy, Silverwood, Blain, Thornicroft.

* Leading players from both dressing rooms yesterday insisted Darren Gough is still a force at one-day international level, following criticism of his performances during the series between England and West Indies, writes MYLES HODGSON.

The 33-year-old seamer, who has just signed a three-year contract with Essex after being released by Yorkshire, has set his sights on still being able to compete in the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.

But criticism of his displays at the weekend - when England lost back to back internationals in St Lucia - have prompted doubts about his ability to perform at the highest level following a lengthy period on the sidelines with a troublesome right knee.

Gough was hammered for 67 runs in only 8.1 overs during Sunday's four-wicket defeat at the Beausejour Stadium.

But all-rounder Andrew Flintoff came to his defence and claimed he is still a key part of the team.

''Writing Darren Gough off is a dangerous thing to do,'' said Flintoff.

''Admittedly he has lost a bit of pace from what he was. But he's still our best one-day bowler. He got a bit of tap on Sunday, but we all did.''

Gough also has his supporters among the West Indies - with Brian Lara speaking out in defence of England's record one-day wicket-taker.

Lara said: ''I've always liked him as a great competitor - that's his number one quality.

''It doesn't matter if he's in his 30s now; he's still competing.

''He's still good enough to trouble Chris Gayle, one of our top one-day players and one of the top one-day players in the world."