Gale excited by Yorkshire ahead of the new season
YORKSHIRE head coach Andrew Gale admits he is close to knowing his line-up for the opening Specsavers County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.
The squads have just arrived back at Headingley following a 12-day training camp in Potchefstroom, South Africa.
“It’s been a really good tour,” said Gale, who handed a debut to new South African fast bowler Duanne Olivier during the trip.
“There’s been some strong performances, with players putting their names forward for the first game of the season.
“But the most pleasing thing is the attitude and work ethic of the players. They’ve really put a shift in and upped the intensity. We come away from South Africa very confident. “We’ve ticked a lot of boxes.
“We’ve lost a couple through injury, which isn’t ideal. We’d like to have come back with a clean bill of health. But that’s the nature of the beast.
“On the whole, I’m really, really happy,” he added on Yorkshire’s club website.
“Subject to injuries, we’re getting pretty close to knowing what our first eleven will look like against Notts at Trent Bridge.”
Yorkshire beat Cardiff in a one-day game last week before playing out tight two-day clashes with Nottinghamshire and Durham.
Olivier is pencilled in to play in the three-day University friendly against Leeds/Bradford at Weetwood ahead of the season opener on April 5.
Gale added: “The lads will hit the ground running on Monday.
“We have four full days of training booked in and then the media day and opening lunch on Friday before we play against Leeds/Bradford on Sunday.
“Then we’re into the full swing of things, the games will come thick and fast, and it will be important we get off to a good start.
“I’m really excited about this group of players. I’ve said this from the outset.
“This group are really hungry for success. They know they are going to get opportunities, and it’s up to them to grasp them.
“I’m sure 17 other counties are saying the same thing, but I really do believe in this group.”