YORKSHIRE’S contribution to England’s exciting drawn opening Test against Sri Lanka has helped boost ticket sales for this week’s second Test at Headingley.

Joe Root’s double century and Gary Ballance’s maiden Test hundred at Lord’s has helped put Yorkshire on course to eclipse last summer’s disappointing ticket sales of 29,000 for the Test against New Zealand.

Around 10,000 tickets have been sold for Friday’s opening day, while Saturday is on course for a 16,000 sell-out, although there are still tickets available for other days.

“Everyone at Yorkshire is absolutely pleased as punch for those two lads,” enthused Jason Gillespie, Yorkshire’s first team coach. “For Joe to get that double and Gaz his maiden Test century was great - it was almost a case of ‘no Yorkies, no runs for England’.

“It is exciting and I believe the Yorkshire public should get down to Headingley and watch two young Yorkshire batsmen hopefully score some more runs for their country.”

Gillespie believes their success – and Liam Plunkett’s recall to England’s squad - can be an inspiration for some of the other players at the county with international ambitions.