And so it begins...

After Yorkshire's perfect start to the season the injury curse has struck.

Yorkshire's season was always going to depend on the fitness of it's ageing and injury prone pace attack. For the opener against Surrey the team was fit to bursting at the seams with bowling talent. Deon Kruis, the leading wicket taker the past two seasons was 12th man such was the depth of the bowling.

However a week on and the situation is looking much gloomier. Kruis took 3 wickets in the first one-day match of the year against Nottinghamshire, but left the field with a pulled hamstring ruling him out for over a month. The second paceman to fall victim was Aussie star Gillespie who hit his maiden county century at the Oval. Combined with Anthony McGrath's virus, the line up to face Durham today now takes a on greenish hue.

But as in nature when old forest tress fall it provides space for young saplings to grow and fill the void. Hopefully McGrath's replacement, Andrew Gale will take the opportunity and lay down roots in the thick jungle that is Yorkshire's batting department. When Michael Vaughan returns to the county there could be scant opportunities for Yorkshire's young batsmen in the four day game.

Not so in the bowling. Gillespie's replacement today is Ajmal Shazhad. It is these opportunities the younger players must grasp with both hands. With Kruis sidelined there could also be room for Patterson or Thornicroft to step up in the coming weeks.

However with youth there is hope. The one day games will be where most of the younger players will cut their teeth this season. Chris Gilbert and Richard Pyrah both contributed to the win over Notts and have been in sparkling form for the second XI.

2007 was always going to be a year of transition but it seems the process will have to happen sooner rather than later if Yorkshire are to compete.