Gale back in charge for Tykes trip to Bridge

Yorkshire skipper Andrew Gale is looking forward to returning to the team for the LV County Championship division one clash against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, starting on Sunday.
Captain Andrew Gale celebrates winning the Division One County Championship during day four of the LV= County Championship Division One match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. SSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday September 12, 2014. See PA story CRICKET Nottinghamshire. Photo credit should read: Mike Egerton/PA WireCaptain Andrew Gale celebrates winning the Division One County Championship during day four of the LV= County Championship Division One match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. SSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday September 12, 2014. See PA story CRICKET Nottinghamshire. Photo credit should read: Mike Egerton/PA Wire
Captain Andrew Gale celebrates winning the Division One County Championship during day four of the LV= County Championship Division One match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. SSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday September 12, 2014. See PA story CRICKET Nottinghamshire. Photo credit should read: Mike Egerton/PA Wire

Gale has completed his ECB suspension and will resume the captaincy, although he is delighted how the Tykes claimed a 10-wicket victory at New Road against Worcestershire earlier this week.

The captain said: “It has to go down as one of Yorkshire’s best wins in recent times. When you look at the circumstances that we were under with six players missing with England, myself out through suspension and losing Ryan Sidebottom with an injury in the second innings, it was an incredible effort to win the game in three days.

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“Any other team in the country, with such a depleted resource, would have struggled to compete. We have real strength in depth and have this ability of players coming in and doing a job. It was a fantastic effort from everyone involved.”

The ex-Driffield batsman said: “There is a lot of confidence in the group and the players are comfortable in their surroundings. Everyone is working hard to be successful and above all else looking to win matches.

“The senior players stood up and showed their real qualities. The likes of Tim Bresnan, Steve Patterson and Jack Brooks were brilliant and I was pleased for Alex Lees, who captained the side well.”

Gale is quick to acknowledge the high quality of the hosts in this week’s game.

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The left-hander said: “Notts are a good side. We saw that last year and they pushed us hard for most of the season. They have strength in depth throughout the side and they have recruited well.

“They’ll be looking to make it difficult for sides to perform at Trent Bridge and we will be in for a test of our credentials.”

He added: “They are an aggressive side and are a strong batting unit. They looked good in their recent match at Lord’s against Middlesex and they dominated large parts of the game without going onto win it.

“It will be a different test for us and it will be difficult. Our record at Trent Bridge has been pretty good over the last few years. It will be a good challenge for us.”

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Gale is keen to get back out on the pitch after a spell on the sidelines.

He said: “I’m very excited to be back on the park captaining the team. It has been a difficult period, but now I can put the suspension to one side and concentrate on winning cricket matches for Yorkshire.

“It was nice to get out with the Second XI this week and I enjoyed being part of the group. I felt I contributed with the bat and helped the team win against Glamorgan.

“Alex did a great job. The guy has only just turned 22, but to stand up like he did and score runs in the game and lead from the front just shows his qualities. Going forward, he will be a great leader of this side one day.”

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Yorkshire will be without the services of seamer Ryan Sidebottom, who sustained a calf injury in the club’s victory over Worcestershire early this week.

The injury is currently being assessed but it is expected that the 37-year-old is likely to be missing for a number of weeks.

Youngster Matthew Fisher could be in line to make his championship debut. The 17-year-old, if selected, will become the sixth-youngest County Championship debutant in Yorkshire’s history.

At 17 years and 161 days, Fisher would become the youngest after Paul Jarvis, Doug Padgett, Paul Booth, Gary Ramsden and Kevin Sharp to wear the White Rose in a Championship game.

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The York-born pace bowler is already the youngest to appear in a competitive county match for any side, having made his one-day debut against Leicestershire at Scarborough in 2013, aged 15 years and 212 days.

The starting XI will be named before the toss on Sunday

Yorkshire 12-man squad to face Nottinghamshire: Jack Brooks, Tim Bresnan, Karl Carver, Matthew Fisher, Andrew Gale (captain), Andrew Hodd (wicketkeeper), Jack Leaning, Alex Lees, Steve Patterson, Cheteshwar Pujara, Richard Pyrah, Will Rhodes.