YORKSHIRE will face England Test captain Alastair Cook in the four-day champion county fixture against the MCC at Abu Dhabi in March.

Cook, sacked as England’s one-day captain last month ahead of the World Cup, has made himself available to play against the White Rose, starting on Sunday, March 22.

The left-handed opener is playing in order to prepare for England’s Test tour of the West Indies through April and early May, and he is part of a strong MCC team captained by Middlesex’s Nick Compton.

Cook and Compton are two of four players selected who have played Test matches for England, with Durham fast bowler Graham Onions making the trip alongside Michael Carberry.

England Lions trio Sam Billings, Matt Dunn and Adam Riley are selected, as is Durham seamer Chris Rushworth and Worcestershire captain Daryl Mitchell.

“This is certainly the strongest team we’ve ever selected for this fixture,” said MCC head of cricket John Stephenson.

“There’s an excellent blend of youth and experience, and I’m sure Nick Compton will lead the group expertly.

“Of course, to have a batsman of Alastair Cook’s calibre involved shows the standing this fixture has in professional cricket, and I’m delighted to have him at the top of the order.”

The fixture will be played as a day-night affair with a pink ball as the MCC continue experiments regarding the viability of floodlit Test cricket.

Yorkshire are scheduled to be out in the United Arab Emirates between March 12 and 26, where they will also play in the Emirates Airline T20 tournament alongside Roses rivals Lancashire, Sussex and the MCC on March 20 in Dubai.

The Vikings will play Lancashire in the semi-final of the tournament, which replicates T20 Finals Day.

The MCC will announce the addition of a world T20 star to their squad for that tournament next week.

While Yorkshire are playing the champion county fixture in Abu Dhabi, the non-selected players will feature in a red-ball friendly against Sussex. Their team is expected to be complemented by some local players.

MCC team: Nick Compton (captain), Alastair Cook, Michael Carberry, James Hildreth, Zafar Ansari, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings, Matt Dunn, Graham Onions, Adam Riley, Chris Rushworth. T20 only players: World star to be confirmed and Paras Khadka (Nepal captain).