Joe Sayers believes a successful opening partnership is crucial to Yorkshire’s chances in LV= County Championship division one this summer.

The left-handed opener made an impressive return to first-team action in the draw against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge last week, scoring 50 and 45.

And he will continue his partnership with Adam Lyth at the top of the order against struggling Hampshire at Headingley, starting tomorrow.

Sayers, dropped from the side following the season opener against Worcestershire at New Road, said: “The opening partnership is the bedrock of a successful team, and has been the bedrock of Yorkshire’s success over the last 18 months.

“It was certainly very good for Lythy and myself to have two solid opening partnerships (against Notts).

“I think we complement each other really well in our style of play, and also the shots we can play.

“We’ve developed a decent relationship at the crease and understand each other well.

“I’ve done all I can to cement my place. It’s my job to be as consistent as possible. Hopefully I can push on and turn the 50 into a big hundred.”

The draw against Notts provided morale boosters for both Sayers as an individual and the team as a whole after successive four-day defeats against Notts and Durham at Headingley.

But now the White Rose county need to kick on against Dominic Cork’s side.

Sayers added: “We probably would have taken a draw against the defending champions on their own patch before the game started because we’ve been through some challenges already this summer.

“It’s a pivotal stage of the season coming up in terms of the Championship and the CB40.

“If we can pick up as many points as we can in May, it will put us in a good position when we come back from the Twenty20.

“Hopefully we can take the form we had in a lot of areas against Notts into the Hampshire game.”

Yorkshire will have to do without Rich Pyrah for tomorrow’s match after the in-form all-rounder got his shoe spikes caught in the turf while batting against Kent in the Clydesdale Bank 40 win at Canterbury on Sunday.

He had a scan on his right knee last night, and Yorkshire could find out the extent of the damage today.

“It’s disappointing for Rich because it looks like he’s going to be struggling for the next few weeks at least,” said captain Andrew Gale.

“He’s had the season of his life so far, and he’s been the first name on the team sheet in all forms of cricket.

“The problem is that his knee has not swollen. When you can’t walk and it’s not swollen, the physio thinks it could be worse.”

Yorkshire can at least call upon England’s Tim Bresnan as Pyrah’s replacement for the next two Championship matches, including tomorrow and the Roses match against Lancashire at Liverpool next Wednesday.

Gale added: “If there was ever an injury like for like, it’s worked out okay. But Brezzy’s not going to be around forever.”