Bird chides England over non-playing Yorkshire contingent

As England's batsmen struggled in the West Indies, Dickie Bird has railed strongly against the policy of selecting players for an England tour, only to leave them wearing bibs and ferrying drinks while their county plays important Championship matches.

The Yorkshire president is as passionate a patriot as one could find, yet he could see no value in Adam Lyth, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Plunkett and Adil Rashid being in the West Indies while back home an under-strength team battled to maintain parity with Worcestershire at New Road.

"It's good for the club that six Yorkshire players have been picked for England," Bird said. "But if they are not playing, send them home. They'd be better off playing for Yorkshire.

"I'm disappointed that with six out there, only two of them are playing," added the former Test umpire as he watched Alex Lees, another England prospect, attempt to hold the visitors' first innings together. Yorkshire are the defending champions but England call-ups are expected to impact on their chances this season.

"They could be back playing for their county and, if there was an injury, they could get them out there on a plane in seven hours. It could cost us in the long run."

Bird's anger was hardly assuaged by the fact that Moeen Ali is widely expected to fly out to the West Indies at the end of the current game, if he proves his fitness against Yorkshire.

Moeen's arrival in the Caribbean would probably end Rashid's chances of playing in either of the remaining Tests and increase the clamour for the legspinning allrounder to return. It is understood that Bird has made his views known to national selector, James Whitaker, who was also at New Road on the second day of the Yorkshire game.

Yorkshire director of cricket Jason Gillespie added: "Seeing four of our lads sitting with bibs on the sidelines is disappointing for them. We want tot see them live their dream and play for England."