THERE used to be a grandiose yet grand old saying that when Yorkshire Cricket Club was strong, then so was England.

It was not just down to a blind faith view from the Broad Acres. There was more than a grain of sand to the adage of a strong White Rose being mirrored by a formidable three lions.

But now as England are hitting new straps of strength, albeit they have ceded their number one Test position, what about Yorkshire?

Currently the national side is sprinkled with more than a fair share of star performers from Yorkshire.

Over the last two months, the yeoman bowling of Tim Bresnan has been supplemented, maybe even supplanted now, by the glowing prospect of York-based Jonny Bairstow and even more recently Joe Root, who hit a career-best 79 not out in the one-day international conquest of New Zealand at McLean Park.

The obvious talent of Root has been rewarded by an enhanced status within the England squad. Not yet a central contract, but edging closer to such a tie-up with the national set-up.

With fellow batsman Gary Ballance also making healthy strides among the pride of the England Lions on their present tour of Australia, Yorkshire’s contribution to the well-being of the national ranks is substantial.

The White Rose county’s influence is set fair for a long innings at the forefront of the national and international game.

But how will that impact on Yorkshire and is it fair on those county supporters who have annually forked out considerable sums on annual membership?

Under the canny stewardship of coach Jason Gillespie last summer, Yorkshire returned to the top tier of the domestic game, meaning they and members will be eagerly looking forward to the new term which starts in April with revived optimism.

But Yorkshire’s ranks could spend a large bulk of the season denuded of the likes of Bairstow, Root and perhaps Ballance too and that could have a detrimental effect on the county set-up.

While reinforcing England’s resources and we all want that especially with two Ashes series coming along like buses this year, their absence – deepened by the retirement of mainstay batsman Anthony McGrath – will surely harm Yorkshire’s chances of continued success, especially in the batting department.

As someone from t’other side of Pennines – the right side I believe – the examples of Michael Atherton, Andrew Flintoff and current record-setting James Anderson, spring painfully to mind as being nurtured by a county only to then appear in too few Lancashire spats as their country called them to arms.

And I can wager not one member who takes in their summer vigil at Yorkshire’s Headingley head-quarters, or their ‘second’ home of North Marine Road within earshot of the sea pounding along Scarborough’s North Bay, would like the yo-yo to be put into Yorkshire as a county flitting between the two championship tiers.

While no one would ever wish to deny the promise of potential progression to the Test arena, it surely is unfair on those who pay to keep the county game from limping into a moribund feeder set-up for England.

Without a strong county set-up England will not prosper, but paradoxically the more England calls on its chosen few, the less those players will feature in the LV Championship divisions one or two.

So it’s hail England, but what about the rest?