Darren Gough is rested for Yorkshire's CricInfo Championship game against Northamptonshire at Headingley.

However, fellow England players Ryan Sidebottom, Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard are included in the squad alongside Scott Richardson, who will hoping to play his second first-class game.

Graeme Swann and David Ripley return for Northants and the Yorkshire coach, Arnie Sidebottom, knows it will be a tough encounter.

"Things are going well and let's hope it continues," Sidebottom said. "They are a good outfit with a strong batting line-up and hopefully it will be a good match."

Elsewhere Jeff Hammond, the Glamorgan coach, dismissed his team's lowly position in the table as a consequence of the weather more than their ability. "It's pointless having tables before seven rounds of games have gone as the weather affects a lot of the early matches," he said.

Glamorgan meet Kent at Swansea, with Kent welcoming back Mark Ealham and Matthew Walker, but missing David Masters who has a side strain.

Essex look to have the toughest of tasks. They face the might of Champions, Surrey, who will be buoyed by the presence of Thorpe, Stewart and Ward to the ranks that already boost several well-known names.

In Division Two, Angus Fraser is unlikely to be available due to a shoulder injury for Middlesex's clash with Nottinghamshire at Lord's.

Mike Roseberry (rib strain) and Chad Keegan (ankle) are also concerns, but Simon Cook returns.

John Emburey, the new coach, credited the middle order as being the strength of his side at present: "Stephen Fleming and Owais Shah are in tremendous form for us and we are happy with our batting while our bowling has been okay but nothing outstanding," he said.

Andrew Harris is hoping to win a place in the Notts side.

Lawrence Prittipaul is back in the Hampshire side to play Derbyshire after passing a fitness test on his shoulder injury, and having hit 175 not out for the seconds last week. Former England opener, John Stephenson, looks likely to miss out.

Chris Adams should return for Sussex, who meet Warwickshire at Hove. "We are on our own patch and we'll give them a run for their money," said Sussex coach Peter Moores.

Neil Carter and 21-year-old Jamie Spires come into the Warwickshire squad.

Worcestershire travel to play Gloucestershire at Bristol, with Graeme Hick looking for a big score to catch the attention of England selectors needing to find someone to fill in for Nasser Hussain. Matthew Rawnsley is a likely starter for the visitors, while Tim Hancock returns for the hosts.

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