Martyn Moxon says facing England quick Steven Finn will provide Yorkshire’s batsmen with the ideal opportunity to show they are ready to step up to international cricket.

Finn will be part of Middlesex’s attack for the LV= County Championship match at Lord’s, starting tomorrow.

After a difficult winter, which saw him carrying the drinks on the Ashes tour, the 25-year-old has returned to county colours with 15 wickets in two matches, including hauls of six wickets, five and four.

He is the leading wicket-taker in either division of the Championship.

There are a number of Yorkshire batsmen with an eye on England, whether it be immediately or in the future.

Joe Root will want to prove form and fitness after his broken right thumb, while Gary Ballance is aiming to retain his Test place for June’s Sri Lanka series.

Ballance is in excellent form but facing Finn will be a step up from the attacks of Somerset and Northamptonshire.

Alex Lees is also highly thought of by the England hierarchy, having impressed with the Lions, while Adil Rashid is hoping for an England future too after excelling with the bat last year and starting this season in a similar way.

Yorkshire’s director of cricket said: “With his pace and height, like Liam (Plunkett) for us, Finn creates opportunities.

“But it is good for the batsmen too to have players like that around to have the opportunity to play against. “If you are looking to be an England player, if you are getting runs against the better attacks, it shows you have the potential to play at that level higher.

“Middlesex are a good team when all of their players are available – Finn, Morgan, Rogers, Robson, Murtagh, who is a good bowler. They will challenge you. It is not an easy place to go to play and whoever is on the team sheet we still need to perform.”

Middlesex have won one and lost one of their first two matches.

* Yorkshire wicketkeeper Dan Hodgson has joined Derbyshire on loan for a month. The 24-year-old is expected to debut in tomorrow’s championship fixture against Worcestershire. He will play only four-day cricket while on loan at the County Ground.

Yorkshire 13 v Middlesex: Gale c, Ballance, Brooks, Hodd w, Lees, Lyth, Patterson, Pyrah, Plunkett, Rashid, Root, Sidebottom, Williamson.