Tim Bresnan has been ruled out for Yorkshire ahead of their Roses clash with Lancashire at Liverpool on Wednesday and Gerard Brophy is a major injury doubt.

Both men suffered their problems during Saturday’s final day of the LV= County Championship draw against Hampshire, Brophy’s being a bruised right thumb and Bresnan’s a tight right calf.

Brophy had a fitness test today and will be reassessed again tomorrow.

Bresnan, who had a scan today, will not be risked with England’s Test series against Sri Lanka on the horizon.

The loss of wicketkeeper Brophy will cause Yorkshire more problems seeing as Jonny Bairstow is on England Lions duty and they have no other viable cover.

His absence would force Martyn Moxon and Andrew Gale into looking at a loan signing or a wicketkeeper who is currently out of county cricket.

Josh Knappett is one possible target, being as the 26-year-old former Worcestershire man has been playing 40-over cricket for the ECB Unicorns, a team of players looking for professional deals.

Another option would be to call upon the likes of former keepers Greg Wood or Simon Guy, both whom have played local league cricket since leaving the county.

It is far from the ideal preparation for the white rose county ahead of a clash with the Division One pacesetters, who have won three out of their first four matches.

But captain Gale is still confident they can rise to the challenge.

He said: “I feel like we’re in decent form, although results don’t quite suggest that. We’ve played some good cricket.

“Roses games are always special, especially in the Championship - it’s the first fixture you look for when the list comes out.”

Lancashire will be strengthened by the inclusion of Jimmy Anderson at a ground which has provided a result in the last seven fixtures played there.

Gale added: “At the moment, they are one of the teams to beat. But the Championship’s wide open.

“If we win a couple of matches, we’ll be right up at the top. Everyone’s beating everyone bar maybe Hampshire and Worcester. I’ve never played at Liverpool, but it’s an opportunity for us to get another win.”

Batsman Gary Ballance will slot into the middle order with Bairstow away. The likes of Moin Ashraf, Oliver Hannon-Dalby and David Wainwright are all candidates to replace Bresnan.