Joe Root available for Yorkshire's T20 Blast opener against Nottinghamshire

Coach Andrew Gale says England's Test captain could feature for his county at Headingley on Thursday (August 27)

• Yorkshire and Lancashire draw at Headingley

Yorkshire will be able to call upon England Test captain Joe Root when they kick-off their T20 Blast campaign against Nottinghamshire at Headingley on Thursday (August 27).

The 29-year-old has been left out of the T20 squad to face Pakistan but after a brief rest following the Test series will return to county action.

If selected as anticipated, it'll be Root's first outing for his club since April 2019. He last played a T20 for the Vikings in 2016.

“We’re going to have Joe Root back for Thursday," said coach Andrew Gale, speaking after the drawn Bob Willis Trophy match against Lancashire.

“I spoke to Rooty last night (Tuesday), and he’s chomping at the bit. He’s got a point to prove not being in the England T20 set-up, which is a good thing for us.

“I’m not quite sure how many games he will play. 

“He’s definitely going to play on Thursday. England are making a selection on the Australian T20 series on Sunday night. So he might play on Sunday and Monday as well. Everything’s a bit up in the air. 

😊 GOOD NEWS Yorkshire supporters, Andrew Gale has confirmed that @root66 will be available to play in Thursday night's @VitalityBlast opener against Notts Outlaws #OneRose pic.twitter.com/Q0JqvNh4Ti

— Yorkshire CCC (@YorkshireCCC) August 25, 2020

“I just see anything as a bonus because we didn’t expect to have him at all.”

It remains to be seen for how much of the Blast Root will feature, with England set to face Australia in three T20s and a trio of one-day internationals in September.

Chief selector Ed Smith has indicated a full-strength squad will be selected. COVID-19 protocols have meant the Test and limited-overs groups have operated separately, with minimum movement between both bubbles.

He was omitted for the T20 series against South Africa last winter and will be eager to re-establish himself ahead of the 2021 World Cup in India next year.

Confirmation of Root's availability is a welcome boost for Yorkshire, who will be without Jonny Bairstow, Adil Rashid, Dawid Malan, and David Willey for much of the campaign as they bid to reach Finals Days for the first time since 2016.

Gary Ballance is also missing having been suffering with anxiety and stress amid the coronavirus lockdown. He has resumed training but there is no timeline regarding his return to competitive action.

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