England tell Root to rest as title fight goes down to the wire

The fifth and final match of the series takes place in Southampton on Monday, which raised the possibility that Root could play in Yorkshire’s last game of the season against Surrey at the Oval, starting eight days later.

But England want Root to rest ahead of a busy international winter, which begins with a five-Test series against Australia starting in Brisbane on November 21.

“There’s no chance of Joe playing in our final game,” said Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire’s director of cricket. “We’ve been told by England that he’s not available.

“We were told that before we had the chance to make the enquiry, so England pre-empted the question, if you like. That’s just the way it goes, and England want Joe to rest ahead of the winter.”

Root, 22, is one of several England players told to put their feet up ahead of the Australia tour, including captain Alastair Cook.

Cook has been declared unavailable to aid Essex’s bid for Championship promotion after he was allowed to sit out the one-day series.

However, some England stars are playing for their counties, including Yorkshire’s Jonny Bairstow and Sussex’s Matt Prior, who are currently on opposing sides in the Championship game at Hove.

Both men are available until the end of the season.

Tim Bresnan, who is currently sidelined with a back injury, has been awarded a benefit by Yorkshire for next year.

The 28-year-old pace bowler, who missed the last two Ashes Tests, is the first Yorkshire beneficiary since Gerard Brophy in 2011.

Bresnan made his Yorkshire debut as a 16-year-old back in 2001.

He has gone on to play 95 first-class games for the club, scoring 2,760 runs at 25.79 and taking 261 wickets at 30.92.

Bresnan has captured 67 wickets in 21 Test matches at 32.10 and 94 wickets in 76 one-day internationals at 36.36.

Yorkshire members wishing to get involved in his benefit should email: [email protected]