David Stiff, one of England's most outstanding young fast bowling prospects, has left Yorkshire and is set to join a new county within the next few days.

Stiff, 19, a former pupil at Batley Grammar School, is attending sessions at England's new Academy at Loughborough as he sharpens up for the Under 19s World Cup in Bangladesh in February.

Stiff, who is 6ft 5in and genuinely quick, was offered a new contract by Yorkshire in October but did not sign it.

"I was sad to say farewell to Yorkshire because I have always wanted to play for them since I was seven or eight, but I did not feel that six second team games in three years was sufficient," said Stiff.

"I believe that in order to fulfil my ambition of going on to play Test cricket for England I must get more opportunities at county level and I am confident I will do so elsewhere.

"I have been carefully considering offers and a deal should be concluded very shortly."

Stiff, who came up through the Yorkshire Academy, earned praise from Australia's Under 19s coach, Wayne Phillips, last winter when he rocked Australia Under 19s in the third Test in Melbourne by grabbing five for 35.

Now Stiff is working on his action at Loughborough under the eye of England Academy boss, Rod Marsh, and he hopes to be firing on all cylinders by the time the World Cup comes round.

Stiff will be travelling to Bangladesh with three of his former Yorkshire colleagues - Tim Bresnan, Mark Lawson and Dan Broadbent.

It is because of the development of other young pacemen like Bresnan and Nick Thornicroft that Yorkshire felt unable to give Stiff more early opportunities.

But new director of cricket, David Byas, is bound to miss not having him around, particularly now Ryan Sidebottom and Gavin Hamilton have gone and question marks still hang over how much work Darren Gough and Craig White will be able to do.

Byas officially begins his duties in the New Year but before then he is likely to reveal the new coaching structure he wants in place next season.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire all-rounder Andy Gray and Academy and second team fast bowler, Steven Patterson, 21, from Hull, have both been chosen for the MCC A tour to the United Arab Emirates, which starts on January 4.

"This is a top MCC tour with several good county players going on it and it will give Gray and Patterson valuable experience of playing in a different environment," said Yorkshire operations director, Geoff Cope.

Ticket sales for the England v New Zealand Test at Headingley next June and the day-night match between England and the West Indies in July have already reached the £250,000 mark. Non-member tickets for the Test match have a £3 discount if purchased before the end of the year.