Yorkshire begin their county championship defence on Sunday seemingly victims of their own success.

The Tykes start the championship trail away to Worcestershire at New Road without six regular squad members who are out on duty with England in the West Indies.

Should all Yorkshire’s half dozen tourists be called up for Monday’s first Test in Antigua at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, it will be the first time a sextet from the same county have represented England since Nottinghamshire provided six players to face Australia in Sydney – which happened as recently as 1887.

The fact that Joe Root, Gary Balance, Jonny Bairstow and Liam Plunkett will be joined by uncapped duo Adam Lyth and Adil Rashid, is testimony to just how commanding Yorkshire were in winning their first county crown for 11 years last season.

It is also a huge tribute to head coach Jason Gillespie for his work in producing a winning machine – sadly to his own detriment as he looks to pull together a team capable of retaining the trophy.

Given that any of the Tykes out in the Caribbean making a fist of it for England can probably count themselves as an international player for the rest of the summer, Gillespie truly has made a rod for his own back.

Of the six on tour currently only Root missed a significant part of last season due to international duty, so Yorkshire’s successes of 2014 have seemingly punched a big hole in their chances for 2015.

However, the great news for Yorkshire supporters is that ‘Dizzy’ Gillespie appears to be anything but concerned by the situation.

Unlike so many football managers all too ready to pull their players out of international matches at the drop of a hat – or perhaps the slight bruising of a fingernail – Gillespie seems to be positively brimming with pride that his players are deemed to be international class.

In fact, he has been talking up his boys, certain Root should be skipper of England soon, and expecting great things of all his charges – particular international newcomers (opening bat) Lyth and, one of the most rare of individuals in our national side at this level, leg-spinner Rashid.

Even more heartening for Tykes fans is that Gillespie calmly regards the knock-on effect of his own success as something he can happily cope with.