England batter Jonny Bairstow set for return in second XI game for Yorkshire

England batter Jonny Bairstow will make a second XI return for Yorkshire this coming week and is set to keep wicket for part of the game.

Tykes coach Ottis Gibson gave an update on Bairstow's fitness after a rain-affected draw at Sussex concluded on Sunday, and revealed he will play against Nottinghamshire's second string.

"Jonny is going to play this week against Notts at Headingley in the twos," said Gibson. "We'll go and have a look at him and see how he goes."

Bairstow hit four brilliant centuries for England last summer but he has not played since suffering a freak accident on the golf course last September, and has had to watch as county colleague Harry Brook cemented himself in the number five spot in England's batting order.

Bairstow has indicated he would like to resume wicketkeeping duties as and when he does return to the Yorkshire XI - giving him another route back into the England side.

Gibson continued: "He's had such a long lay-off, so it's a fitness assessment for him to see what his capacity is and what he can do on the field in terms running around in the outfield or standing behind the stumps.

"He will probably do both to see which one he's most comfortable with."

England's one-off Test against Ireland, starting on June 1, has long been earmarked for Bairstow's international comeback, with an eagerly-awaited Ashes series against Australia to follow.

Yorkshire have County Championship fixtures against Glamorgan from May 4 and Durham a week later to provide him further match action beforehand.

A thrilling County Championship clash between Sussex and Yorkshire ended in anti-climax on Sunday, without a ball being bowled on the fourth day.

Heavy overnight and early morning rain saturated the 1st Central County Ground. Umpires Rob White and Neil Pratt made multiple inspections in an attempt to get the game started, culminating in a final look at 4.30.

Fifteen minutes later it ended with coaches and players shaking hands. The decision was the right one, as within a few minutes another heavy shower put an end to any argument about whether play was possible.

For Yorkshire, needing 63 to win with seven wickets in hand, it was another frustrating experience in a season which has seen them lose a tight game to Leicestershire and then have their match against Gloucestershire washed out without a ball being bowled.

Sussex, meanwhile, have been encouraged by a win and a draw against two of the stronger sides in the division.

Sussex coach Paul Farbrace said: "Yorkshire were very keen to get out there and play, and if we'd been in their situation it would have been exactly the same for us.

"It was one of those days where if it had been 200 or 250 to win we would probably have gone home at lunchtime. Justifiably, they wanted to stay as long as they could.

"If I was Yorkshire going home on the bus I'd be saying we'd been robbed. You need 60-odd to win with seven wickets in hand, you normally win the game from that situation. They've had a tough start, with a tight defeat to Leicester in a run chase and then not bowling a ball at Bristol before being robbed by the rain again here."

Gibson added: "I wish the sun was as warm as it is at home in Barbados so it could dry the ground a bit quicker and we'd have got even 40 minutes in this evening. That would probably would have been enough for us to get the job done.

"We played well, and that's what I've said to the guys just now. The way we bowled having given up a lead is the template for us going forwards. That's the way we need to approach it. Had we bowled better on the first day, perhaps we would have got a different outcome."

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