MARTYN MOXON expects Yorkshire to have had the ideal preparation for the new county season when they begin competitive action in the LV= County Championship against Somerset at Taunton on April 13.

The White Rose squad returned to Headingley yesterday after spending the last fortnight in Sri Lanka on their pre-season tour, playing Twenty20 matches and a two-day fixture against local opposition.

Prior to their trip to Somerset a fortnight tomorrow, they also play two three-day friendlies against Leeds/Bradford MCC Universities at Headingley and Northamptonshire at Northampton.

The first of those fixtures is against the students on Tuesday. The second starts on April 8.

“With us having gone abroad, we will hopefully have had the best of both worlds in terms of good preparation,” said Moxon, Yorkshire’s director of cricket.

“You are obviously hoping the weather’s going to be all right.

“When you start the season so early, it’s difficult not to have a pre-season tour because you can’t guarantee weather. Your ability to be outside is risky.

“Pre-season tours are good for getting rustiness out, getting back on grass.

“But we are fortunate we’ve got two quality games on home soil as well to prepare for Taunton.

“The two matches will be used with a view to the first game at Taunton. The sides will be selected with that in mind.

“Leeds/Bradford are a very good team. It will be great and valuable practice for us.”

Yorkshire host their annual meeting in the Headingley Long Room today, starting at 10.30am. Dickie Bird’s nomination as the club’s new president will be officially ratified, while Sachin Tendulkar will be appointed as an honorary life member. He was Yorkshire’s first overseas player in 1992.