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Dickie Bird left "disappointed" as England pick two of six Yorkshire players

England should have sent Adil Rashid, Adam Lyth, Jonny Bairstow and Liam Plunkett back to Yorkshire, says president Dickie Bird.

Yorkshire president and former Test match umpire Dickie Bird has admitted that he is "disappointed" that spare England players haven't been sent back to play county cricket.

England picked six Yorkshire players to go on the tour to the West Indies, but only Gary Ballance and Joe Root were selected to play in the first Test match, leaving Adil Rashid, Adam Lyth, Jonny Bairstow and Liam Plunkett wearing bibs on the sideline.

Yorkshire, who are the defending Division One champions, are expected to struggle without many of their star performers, and Bird believes that those who aren't needed should have been sent back.

He told ESPN: "It's good for the club that six Yorkshire players have been picked for England. 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 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."

England made a good start to their Test series against the West Indies and finished day one on 341-5.

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Charlie Bennett
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Englands Gary Ballance plays a sweep shot watched by Sri Lankas wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene (L) and Sri Lankas Mahela Jayawardene (C) during play on the fourth day of the first cricket Test match between England and Sri Lanka at Lord's cricket groun
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