Tuffey has played 89 one-day internationals for New Zealand

Yorkshire's plans for the new season have been thrown into disarray after Daryl Tuffey broke his hand.

The New Zealand quick bowler was signed as cover for Ryan Harris during his Indian Premier League commitments.

Tuffey, however, broke his left hand playing against Australia yesterday, and is now unlikely to move to Headingley for the new season.

And with Harris taking four wickets for Australia on his debut, his involvement with Yorkshire is also in doubt.

The 30-year-old took 4-77 as Australia beat New Zealand by 10 wickets after being pulled out of his IPL contract by Cricket Australia to enable him to take part.

His form suggests he is unlikely to be released by Australia for Yorkshire, with the Twenty20 World Cup and a tour of England looming.

It's difficult to sign overseas players at the best of times and particularly difficult at the 11th hour Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan

Chief executive Stewart Regan told the Yorkshire Post: "If I was a betting man, I'd say Ryan Harris is highly unlikely to come to the club following his recent great form for Australia, while the timing of Daryl's injury is particularly cruel.

"Unfortunately, it's as though the cricketing gods are conspiring against us."

Tuffey, 31, was signed as cover for Harris, but is now likely to be sidelined for six weeks with the broken finger.

Yorkshire now face a frantic search for a replacement bowler with the new season less than three weeks away.

Regan said: "An enormous amount of hard work had gone into identifying two very competent overseas players and now it looks as though neither will be coming to Yorkshire.

"We'll talk about the situation with [Director of Cricket] Martyn Moxon over the next few days but we'll probably look to sign a replacement.

"That's easier said than done, however, because it's difficult to sign overseas players at the best of times and particularly difficult at the 11th hour."

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