ENGLAND Test captain Joe Root has been made available for Yorkshire’s first two Specsavers County Championship matches next month.

In a huge boost to the county, Root will start a landmark summer, which includes a home World Cup and an Ashes series, in a White Rose shirt.

He will face Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge from April 5 and then Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl from April 11.

Adil Rashid will miss those matches due to a shoulder injury, but he has been pencilled in for a return to county colours with appearances in the first four Royal London one-day Cup matches between April 17 and 26.

That includes a Roses clash with Lancashire at Emerald Headingley on Easter Sunday (April 21).

Jonny Bairstow and David Willey are both on IPL duty, but they have been told they must return to England by April 25, meaning they could yet be available for one or two RL50 matches prior to the home internationals beginning with an ODI against Ireland on May 3.

The Division One season opener against Notts will see Root line up against Test team-mate Stuart Broad, who begins his Notts’ Testimonial year with a blockbuster fixture.

The ECB say the England management will discuss Root’s availability for Yorkshire during their 50-over campaign nearer the time, with this subject to his workload heading into the summer.

Root scored centuries in Test and one-day cricket during England’s tour of the West Indies, which finished last night with a third successive T20 win. He also scored 55 in the second T20 win in St Kitts on Friday.

“I’m stating the obvious here, but to have the England lads back with us will be great,” said Yorkshire coach Andrew Gale.

“To have the England Test captain back in the group will make a big difference to our dressing room, especially given the fine form that he’s in.

“Joe talks a lot about rhythm, and he’s certainly got that at the moment.

“Clearly he want to continue that with us ahead of a huge summer of cricket for our national side, who have a World Cup on home soil and an Ashes series to look forward to."