Yorkshire have received an unexpected boost in their push for Vitality County Championship promotion, with England ace Jonny Bairstow available for their crucial Division Two clash against Sussex in Scarborough this week.

The Bradford-born wicketkeeper-batsman has hardly featured for his home county over the last few years due to his international commitments in all formats.

England kick off their home Test series against Sri Lanka on Wednesday at Old Trafford, with Joe Root and Harry Brook, who played five County Championship matches apiece for Yorkshire earlier this summer, both in the starting XI.

But Bairstow is not currently in the red-ball frame for his country, so will instead be trying to guide his county to a home win at North Marine Road.

With five games left in the Division Two season, a victory for leaders Sussex will leave them with one hand on the title.

But a Yorkshire victory could take them above Middlesex into the second and final automatic promotion spot.

The game between Yorkshire and Sussex gets underway this Thursday from 11am.