Yorkshire Phoenix's chances of getting back to winning ways in the Norwich Union League were dashed at Trent Bridge yesterday when rain prevented any play against lowly Nottinghamshire Outlaws.

Richard Blakey lost the toss for Yorkshire, who were asked to bat first but a thick drizzle then set in and continued throughout a miserable afternoon.

It was Yorkshire's first complete blank in coloured clothing cricket since the game against Sussex Sabres was wiped out at Scarborough in 1998.

Although Yorkshire fancied their chances against a Notts side which has suffered defeats in their first three matches, two points from the abandoned game keeps them in the top half.

The outcome was particularly frustrating for new overseas player Simon Katich, who is deputising for Darren Lehmann while the Yorkshire captain is playing for Australia in the one-day series of internationals against Pakistan.

Katich was run out off his first ball against Worcestershire Royals last Tuesday and will now go into Wednesday's Championship match with Sussex at Headingley still to make his run for his adopted county. Gavin Hamilton joined Yorkshire's squad for training at Trent Bridge yesterday and will be fighting to win back his place on Wednesday after a spell in the second team.

Yorkshire must beat Sussex to boost morale in a side which has not beaten first class opponents since their Norwich Union victory over Kent Spitfires at Canterbury on May 19.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire are now in the process of interviewing a shortlist of applicants for the job of chief executive in succession to Chris Hassell.