Yorkshire assess opening candidates in friendly (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Yorkshire assess opening candidates in friendlies

7:13pm Monday 18th March 2013 in Sport By Sports Desk

Yorkshire intend to use their pair of two-day matches against county opposition in Barbados to determine who will become their new opener for the start of the season.

Joe Root’s success on his first full winter with England has potentially opened up a position at the top of the order, with Yorkshire expecting the selectors to take the Sheffield-born batsman away for most of next summer.

Root finished last season’s promotion campaign opening with Adam Lyth but as Yorkshire prepare for a two-day friendly against Northamptonshire starting tomorrow, they are already looking further ahead to the start of the county season.

Australian Phil Jacques is one option, while Joe Sayers and Alex Lees could also be in contention and captain Andrew Gale admitted: “It’s something we will need to play with.

“Joe Sayers is an opening batter, and the opportunity’s there for him if he wants to take it, but he knows he’s got to back it up with runs.”

Yorkshire will rest several players who featured in the t20 matches, while off-spinner Azeem Rafiq has a bruised finger and wicketkeeper Andrew Hodd suffered a knee injury against Nottinghamshire. Dan Hodgson will take over the gloves in his absence.

Yorkshire squad v Northamptonshire: Lees, Lyth, Leaning, Gale (capt), Sayers, Rashid, Hodgson (wkt), Rhodes, Randhawa, Patterson, Wardlaw, Brooks.