YORKSHIRE have added Hoylandswaine batsman Joe Sayers to their squad for today’s Championship Division I clash with Middlesex at Lord’s.

Sayers, who got a half century in the YB40 defeat on Sunday, is drafted in along with Liam Plunkett, Iain Wardlaw and 19-year-old seamer Ben Coad, who will make his first-class debut if selected.

Moin Ashraf is ruled out by a back injury, while Gary Ballance is suffering from a virus and will also not take part in the top of the table clash.

The timing of the problems for Ballance and Ashraf could hardly be worse, given the absence of Jack Brooks, who is still recovering from a broken thumb.

Andrew Gale’s team go into the game at Lord’s level on points with their opponents, both sides having played seven matches.

Both sides trail leaders Sussex by only five points.

Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie said: “After a poor start I think we’ve played some wonderful cricket. We talk about driving games and being in the driving seat, and I believe we have been in each game since Sussex.

“We’ve been in a position to win the matches and I think that’s the result of the way we’ve gone out to bat and our aggressive bowling.”

Yorkshire’s squad yesterday visited the House of Commons for a reception to mark the club’s 150th anniversary. The reception was hosted by the Selby and Ainsty MP Nigel Adams.

Squad – Coad, Gale, Hodd (wkt), Jaques, Lees, Lyth, Patterson, Plunkett, Pyrah, Rashid, Sayers, Sidebottom, Wardlaw.