Warwickshire will have England Test players Ian Bell and Tim Ambrose available for nearly all matches before the opening Test match of the summer, against New Zealand at Lord's starting on May 15.
The England and Wales Cricket Board announced yesterday that Peter Moores, the England coach, would make England players available for domestic cricket.
Wicketkeeper Ambrose will miss the opening Division Two match in the LV County Championship, against Worcestershire at Edgbaston on April 16, but will thereafter be available for all cricket until the first Test.
Bell's availability for championship matches includes those against Worcestershire, Leicestershire (starting on April 29) and Derbyshire (May 7) but not Northamptonshire at Northampton starting on April 23.
Michael Vaughan, the England captain, and Matthew Hoggard will play in Yorkshire's three-day match against Leeds/Bradford UCCE students at Headingley from April 16. Vaughan scored only 123 runs in six completed innings in the Tests in New Zealand.
