Andrew Gale and Martyn Moxon will sit down today to finalise a squad for Yorkshire’s County Championship opener against Warwickshire at Edgbaston tomorrow.

It is going to be touch and go as to whether they will be able to call upon the services of West Indian overseas fast bowler Tino Best, who was still in the Caribbean yesterday awaiting the processing of a work permit.

“We are preparing as if we are going to be without him,” said captain Gale.

“Of course we would love to have him with us but, if not, it gives an opportunity to one of the other lads.”

Nine of Yorkshire’s team for Edgbaston would seem to pick themselves. You would think Joe Sayers, Jacques Rudolph, Anthony McGrath, Gale, Jonny Bairstow, Gerard Brophy, Adil Rashid, Tim Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad will play barring any last-minute injuries.

But who the captain and director of professional cricket will pick to occupy the final two places is anybody’s guess.

“I can’t see us playing two spinners this early in the season,” said Gale. “It’s April 9, and we are expecting it to be more suited to the seamers rather than spinners.”

That would mean Oliver Hannon-Dalby, James Lee, Steve Patterson, Rich Pyrah, Ben Sanderson and possibly Best are vying for two spots – and there would be no place for England Lions left-arm spinner David Wainwright.

Edgbaston is generally seen as a batsman’s paradise, with Warwickshire only winning three matches there in as many seasons.

Wicketkeeper Brophy, who is fit again after ankle surgery over the winter, expects the track to be “low, slowish and seam a bit”, while Gale reckons the surface will still be “pretty good” providing the weather is dry in Birmingham.

Gale will lead Yorkshire out for the first time in a competitive match after taking over the skipper’s role from McGrath.

“Captaining Yorkshire is something that I’ve wanted to do ever since I was a young lad,” he said.

“When I hear my name on the tannoy, it will be a proud moment for me and my family.”

Warwickshire will have England duo Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott available, and they will come up against international colleagues Bresnan and Shahzad.

Gale said: “It’s should be a good advert for county cricket. It will be like Championship games of old when all the England players were generally available.”