And the winner actually is...Ajmal Shahzad.

In an earlier post I suggested Nick Thornicroft had put himself in pole position for a first team call up with his excellent performance in the UCCE game against Loughborough.

However that was before Thornicroft's fellow paceman Shahzad took four first innings wickets against reigning champions Sussex at Headingly. His excellent performance staved off defeat after Yorkshire were bowled out for 139, 32 runs of which came from the bat of Shahzad himself in 49 balls.

So when Yorkshire return to their four day campaign Ajmal will be hoping to continue his good run of form in the first team. With Darren Gough's miraculous recovery from a broken finger and the possibility of Matthew Hoggard's return to county cricket before the India Test match, the 22 year-old right armer might have to wait a little while longer for a regular run out in the first team.

However his progress does bode well for 2008 when Yorkshire may be without the services of the ageing trio of Gough, Kruis and overseas player Gillespie.