Yorkshire wait on Jaques clearance

Yorkshire, once known for only selecting players born within the county borders, hope their attempts to bring in former Australia international Phil Jaques as a non-overseas player won't be blocked by the ECB. Jaques has chosen to turn his back on Australian cricket after being offered a two-year contract by Yorkshire, who want to take advantage of the fact he has a British passport, thanks to English parentage.

However, Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire's director of cricket, has said that ECB regulations could mean Jaques has to fill the county's one overseas player slot for the season. The 32-year-old opener, Jaques, has previously played for Yorkshire and Worcestershire as an overseas signing but, before being capped by Australia, turned out for Northamptonshire as British-qualified. It is now up to the ECB to decide whether he can make the switch back.

"We'll need agreement from the ECB to allow him to come as a non-overseas player," Moxon told the York Press. "As a British passport holder, you can come and work in England without a work permit. That's not the problem. It's the ECB regulations where we have to make sure all the boxes are ticked.

"We need clarification on whether they are happy with that. They may not allow it, but hopefully they will, given the time span between statuses."

If Jaques is allowed to return as a local player to the county he played for between 2004 and 2005, then Yorkshire will look to bring in a further recruit from abroad. "We've got a few irons in the fire," Moxon said. "But, obviously, we can't act on them until Phil's been cleared. If we get Phil's clearance, we probably would sign somebody else."

As it is, Jaques will not be available for Yorkshire's opening match of the County Championship, against Kent on April 5, because it clashes with preparations for his wedding. The 32-year-old, who made 11 Test appearances for Australia before a back injury curtailed his international career, is expected to be in the UK in time to make his first appearance against Essex two weeks later.