Yorkshire have six Championship fixtures before that date - albeit including the ongoing clash with Gloucestershire in Bristol - and director of cricket Darren Gough is desperate to have Root involved as much as possible
Darren Gough is hopeful Yorkshire will be able to call on Joe Root for "two or three" LV= Insurance County Championship rounds in April and May.
Root, who stepped down as England Test captain on Friday (April 15), will be back in the national ranks for the series against New Zealand, which is scheduled to start on June 2 at Lord's.
However, Yorkshire have six Championship fixtures before that date - albeit including the ongoing clash with Gloucestershire in Bristol - and director of cricket Gough is desperate to have Root involved as much as possible.
Joe Root could play in the County Championship for Yorkshire in April and May
"With a bit of luck, I'd like to think we’d get him for two or three games before the Test series starts," he told the club's official website.
"Whatever we get Joe Root for is a bonus. He loves playing for Yorkshire. We've kept in touch all winter, and I can't wait to get him back.
YORKSHIRE FIXTURES BEFORE TEST SUMMERThursday, April 14: Gloucestershire (County Championship, Bristol)Thursday, April 21: Northamptonshire (County Championship, Northampton)Thursday, April 28: Kent (County Championship, Headingley)Thursday, May 5: Essex (County Championship, Chelmsford)Thursday, May 12: Lancashire (County Championship, Headingley)Thursday, May 19: Warwickshire (County Championship, Headingley)Wednesday, May 25: Worcestershire Rapids (T20 Blast, Headingley)Friday, May 27: Lancashire Lightning (T20 Blast, Old Trafford)Sunday, May 29: Leicestershire Foxes (T20 Blast, Headingley)Tuesday, May 31: Derbyshire Falcons (T20 Blast, Headingley)
"Joe loves it. He has a huge love for this cricket club.
"He's been on messages and wished everybody luck before this (Gloucestershire) game. That's the sort of character he is. He loves playing for Yorkshire and England."
Gough - who was at times a part of the England backroom staff during Root's tenure - said he was surprised to learn of his decision to step down, and praised his commitment to the captaincy over a five-year period.
Root has stepped down as England captain
“He led from the front," he said. "Go down England's last 20 hundreds and it's Root, Root, Root, Root, Root. He's got about 17 of them.
"That's how important he is to the team.
"He's a strong personality. Everybody thinks he's this relaxed, fun loving guy, which he is – he has a strong personality. But he's also a strong leader."
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