YORKSHIRE have been handed a boost after it was confirmed their two overseas stars would be available for a number of key matches later this summer.

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc, the Friends Life t20’s leading wicket-taker with 15 from seven matches, will be available for a potential quarter-final tie should the White Rose reach the last eight for only the third time in ten years.

And he could also play in Finals Day at Cardiff on August 25 should his county qualify, although that conversation has still to take place between Cricket Australia and Yorkshire.

Yorkshire also confirmed yesterday that South African David Miller would be available for the whole of their t20 campaign despite his also being on tour in Ireland with the Proteas’ ‘A’ side in late August, which clashes with Finals Day.

The Tykes will secure a place in the quarter-finals with a win against North Division leaders Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge tonight, the first of three remaining matches.

Starc will undertake strength and conditioning work after Sunday’s final group clash with Derbyshire at Headingley ahead of Australia ‘A’s tour of England between July 27 and August 14, which includes two four-day matches against the England Lions.

He will miss Yorkshire’s next two County Championship matches, but has been given permission to return to county action later this month.

Starc, 22, will be in Yorkshire colours for the Clydesdale Bank 40 clash with Derbyshire at Chesterfield on July 22 and possibly their County Championship match against Leicestershire at Grace Road between July 27-30.

It seems as though the Australian selectors would rather the left-arm quick play in a competitive Championship match as opposed to playing for his country’s second string in a three-day friendly against Derbyshire.

And, in between, he would also play the t20 quarter-final on either July 24 or 25.

Andrew Gale will miss tonight’s match with his ongoing hip injury, and will almost certainly sit out the rest of the group stages with a view to being fit for Wednesday’s return to Championship action against Hampshire at Southampton.

Notts regained their position as group leaders with a Duckworth Lewis win over Lancashire on Tuesday, leaving them ahead of Yorkshire on net run-rate.

Azeem Rafiq has an unbeaten record as the Tykes’ skipper having won four and gained one ‘no result’, against tonight’s opponents at Scarborough last month.

The off-spinner returned his most eye-catching performance of the competition against Lancashire at Headingley last Friday, with his 1-22 from four overs stifling the visitors through the middle of their innings as they failed to reach a target of 181.

Yorkshire face Lancashire at Old Trafford tomorrow night knowing they could eliminate the Red Rose.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing against Lancashire for some reason,” said Rafiq, who hit the winning runs in last year’s match in Manchester.

“I’ve done well against them in Championship cricket as well.

“I got my best haul against them at Old Trafford and whenever we’ve had warm-up games there I do okay too.

“Every time against Lancashire, I’ve always seemed to do well. Hopefully I can keep that going.”

Meanwhile, Yorkshire have made Oliver Hannon-Dalby available for loan.

The fast bowler, with one more year left on his contract, has not played a competitive first-team match since last August.