Yorkshire and England star Jonny Bairstow set to return after injury woes

Bairstow has not played since last August after breaking a leg and dislocating an ankle in a golfing accident.

“I think he might make an appearance in the second team fixture just to see how he goes,” said Gibson.

The West Indian added that Bairstow, 33, hopes to play in the club’s next-but-one County Championship game.

“What I’m told is that Jonny will be available for the Glamorgan Championship game at Headingley,” said Gibson, with that fixture taking place from May 4-7.

“That’s his intention. He wants to be fit to play in that fixture.”

Gibson added that Saud Shakeel, the club’s new signing from Pakistan, could also feature in the early stages of the second XI game against Leicestershire.

Shakeel’s debut on a short-term contract was put on hold after rain washed out Yorkshire’s Championship match against Gloucestershire in Bristol, with no play possible across the four days.

“I’m bitterly disappointed,” said Gibson following the abandonment, with Yorkshire returning to Championship duty on Thursday against Sussex at Hove.

“The outfield was quite sodden in places, and there was an issue at the top end where there’s a drain going across, where the bowlers would most likely take off from.”

Despite sunny conditions in the south west on Saturday, which would have been day three of the match, umpires Paul Pollard and Billy Taylor called the whole thing off owing to safety fears with the wet outfield.

Gibson understood the reasoning. “It’s the early part of the season, the second game, and you don’t want to risk injury to a player,” he added.

“We have a lot more cricket to play, and while we’re disappointed with this we’ll just look forward to what’s to come rather than dwelling too much on this.”