WEEKEND POLL: Captain Gale forced to watch from sidelines

Yorkshire's Andrew Gale celebrates after winning the County Championship.. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.

Gale was serving the first of a two-match ban following an altercation with Ashwell Prince on the third evening of his side’s win at Lancashire earlier this month.

Gale was not allowed to lift the trophy with his team-mates, but was welcomed onto the pitch to join the party after the formal celebrations.

“It was mixed emotions for me, I wanted to be the one lifting the trophy, but it’s happened, we can’t dwell on it,” said the club captain.

“It’s been a tough week not to be on the field leading the lads out, especially having been captain for five years, but I had every confidence in the boys getting the job done and I’m absolutely ecstatic for them.

“When I saw all the Yorkshire fans who had come down to Trent Bridge chanting my name at the end, it’s what dreams are made of.

“I’ve played all my career to be involved in something like that.

“Of course I’m gutted not to take part in the game and lift the trophy with the boys, but they lifted the trophy, and that’s the main thing.”