Joe Root lined up for five County Championship matches with Yorkshire before England Tests

Andrew Gale is uncertain over Jonny Bairstow's availability however as he attempts to win back his place in the red-ball team

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England captain Joe Root could play as many as five County Championship games for Yorkshire before his summer international commitments begin.

The 29-year-old has only represented his club seven times in the red-ball format since replacing Alastair Cook as leader of the red-ball team.

With England's home schedule not due to start until the beginning of June with three Tests against the West Indies, Root could be made available to play domestic cricket for the first six weeks of the campaign.

"He wants to come back and he wants to play. He likes playing, he doesn't like time off," Yorkshire coach Andrew Gale told BBC Radio Leeds.

"He feels he's in good form now and he wants to continue that.

"I think he'd probably miss the first game but he wants to come back and he wants to play five matches before the first Test."

Should Gale's prediction ring true, then Root would be available for the matches against reigning champions Essex, Surrey, Hampshire, Kent and Northamptonshire before joining up with his country.

Before the domestic season starts on April 12, Root will captain England for two Tests in Sri Lanka where the team are already without Jofra Archer and Rory Burns due to injury.

^{Jonny Bairstow has only featured in one Test this winter}

Jack Leach and James Anderson are also considered doubts, meaning it could be a developmental squad that is taken to South Asia.

Jonny Bairstow will reportedly be given the chance to cement a place back in the fold having played just one Test since the conclusion of the Ashes last September.

And with the 30-year-old due to return to Sunrisers Hyderabad for the Indian Premier League, Yorkshire are uncertain how much they will be able to call on him this season.

"We could potentially have him for one Championship game. His career with England is up in the air at the moment," added Gale

"He might get a chance in Sri Lanka and dominate it as we know he can do. If he doesn't, then we will welcome him back with open arms. If he has a point to prove and he is doing that with Yorkshire then even better.

"We've had some text messages here and there but I'm leaving him to do what he needs to do.

"He's got a big series coming up and he's going out to the Indian Premier League - and he will want to do well there because there's a T20 World Cup at the end of the year and he'll be desperate to play in that."