Root: Ballance and Lyth have a point to prove

Opening batsman Lyth was dropped for the series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates due to a lack of runs in the Ashes triumph against Australia last year while fellow left-hander Ballance lost his place in the Test team following the crushing defeat to Australia at Lord's and has not played for his country since.

Yorkshire batsmen Adam Lyth and Gary Ballance

Joe Root believes his Yorkshire team-mates Adam Lyth and Gary Ballance must "hammer home the point" to the England selectors as they strive for a recall to the Test side.

Opening batsman Lyth was dropped for the series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates due to a lack of runs in the Ashes triumph against Australia last year.

Fellow left-hander Ballance lost his place in the Test team following the crushing defeat to Australia at Lord's and has not played for his country since.

Captain Alastair Cook conceded England still has issues to address with its batting line-up following a series win in South Africa and challenged batsmen to stake their claim at county level.

And Root says it is down to Lyth and Ballance to pile on the runs ahead of the three-match series against Sri Lanka, which starts on May 19.

The England vice-captain said: "There's going to be opportunities, places up for grabs. Including this game [Yorkshire's County Championship match against Warwickshire] there's three before the first Test this summer ,so six knocks to get big scores and play into form.

"I know they'll be desperate to do that and really hammer home the point to selectors. I've played with them for years. It's about them making the point themselves."

Prolific batsman Root will play for Yorkshire for the first time since September 2014 when the county champions face Nottinghamshire this weekend.