Joe Root to be restored as an opening batsman for Yorkshire after captain Andrew Gale admits he wants to give him a 'fair run'

Root has struggled to tie down a position in the England Test side having played every one of the top seven in his 15 matches to date

England batsman Joe Root will be restored as an opening batsman for Yorkshire (GETTY IMAGES)

Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale intends to restore Joe Root to the head of the innings this summer after claiming England denied him a “fair run” as an opener.

Root has batted at every position in the top seven during his 15 games as a Test player, but has spent the majority of his county career as an opener.

He took that role during last summer's home Ashes but was moved to six and then three in the return series this winter, before being surprisingly dropped for the final match of the 5-0 whitewash.

Root will join the majority of his England colleagues in returning to county cricket early next season and Gale has promised to let him make his case against the new ball.

"For me, he's an opening batter and I don't think he's been given a fair run in the England side opening the batting," said Gale.

"Rooty's had success playing for Yorkshire since he was a 13-year-old opening the batting.

"That's where he bats for Yorkshire and for me that's where he should bat for England."

Yorkshire will be better served than most by the likely availability of England players at the start of the 2014 campaign, with Root, Gary Ballance, Jonny Bairstow and Tim Bresnan all looking to put their winter experiences behind them.

For Gale, the battleground of county cricket should be all the better for their input,

"There's going to be a lot of places up for grabs now in the England side and those guys have got a point to prove really," he said.

"They're all young enough that whatever happened this winter they'll be better off for the experience. They're not the sort of guys who'll go into their shells.

"They'll come back, stick their chests out and they'll get on with the job.

"They want the England shirt, so they're going to be giving it their all.

"The addition of those four guys coming back is only going to leave us with a stronger side, but even lads who probably haven't had a sniff of England for years, they're saying 'you never know'."

Meanwhile, Yorkshire director of cricket Martyn Moxon does not appear to be in the race to replace Andy Flower as boss of the national side.

Moxon is one of the best respected coaches on the domestic circuit and had been touted as a possible candidate as England's new team director, but is content with the White Rose.

Asked if he would apply for the role, he said: "No, I'm very happy here.

"I want Yorkshire to be successful and to try and help build a squad of players that successful for a period of time with Yorkshire. I've got plenty of work to do here and I'm looking forward to it."

PA