YORKSHIRE have slammed the ECB for refusing them permission to play Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s as the build-up to the county’s quest for a hat-trick of Championship titles took a bizarre twist yesterday.

The champions will take on Middlesex in their final round title decider tomorrow without England duo Bairstow and Bradford-born Adil Rashid, the latter due to rest.

Yorkshire have said that Rashid has requested to rest ahead of England’s busy winter, which starts in Bangladesh on September 30, with family circumstances believed to be part of his reasoning.

The White Rose have also revealed that Bairstow, also going to Bangladesh, wants to play at Lord’s.

In a lengthy statement, they said: “The Yorkshire County Cricket Club would like to express its disappointment after the ECB refused the club’s request for Jonny Bairstow to participate in the final Specsavers County Championship fixture of the season.

“Yorkshire members, supporters and other stakeholders in the game will wonder why this permission has been refused.

“Having been rested for 16 days since he last played for England, Bairstow said he felt refreshed and wanted to play for Yorkshire against Middlesex at Lord’s, where the club has the opportunity of winning three successive County Championships, a feat last achieved almost 50 years ago. Although not a centrally contracted player for the last 12 months, Yorkshire required clearance from the ECB to play Bairstow.

“The club’s director of cricket Martyn Moxon contacted the England hierarchy, but has been refused permission to play Bairstow by director of England cricket Andrew Strauss and England coach Trevor Bayliss.

“Moxon works closely with England due to the fact that six players from Yorkshire have represented their country regularly over the last 12 months. Bayliss’ approach has been to see how the player feels, and this was respected when Bairstow said that he needed a rest after the Royal London one-day series.

“To put matters into context, other centrally contracted players, who are soon to tour Bangladesh and India with England, have been allowed to represent their county in critical matches.

“Bairstow has played five days of cricket in five weeks since the Kia Oval Test match, which finished on Sunday August 14.”

Bairstow would have been the ideal replacement for Australian Jake Lehmann, who has flown back to Adelaide to prepare for South Australia’s domestic campaign.

In Rashid’s case, Yorkshire revealed the news in a much shorter statement as part of their release of a 13-man squad which travels to London.

“Adil Rashid has requested to be rested ahead of a busy winter schedule with England,” it read.

While coach Jason Gillespie said he respects Rashid’s decision, he went on: “I said to him I hope he doesn’t regret the decision he has made.”

Captain Andrew Gale tweeted: “This squad is ready to run through a brick wall for the county. Yes, he wants to rest. That’s his decision. I’ll take 11 lads on the field who will give everything to win.”

Geoffrey Boycott also took to Twitter to say: “Rashid, disappointing, but can’t make him play if he feels tired. Bairstow - Strauss played for Middlesex for years.”

Meanwhile, Yorkshire have confirmed Ryan Sidebottom’s new one-year contract through to the end of next season.

Yorkshire squad v Middlesex: Gale c, Ballance, Bresnan, Brooks, Hodd w, Lees, Lyth, Patterson, Plunkett, Rafiq, Sidebottom, Leaning, Willey.