Captain Gale sets out to repay faith and make the Lions roar

TWO years ago, Andrew Gale was fighting for a place in the Yorkshire team.

Now he is the club's youngest captain since 1933 and the newly-appointed leader of the England Lions.

It has been a remarkable rise for the burgeoning Gale, who has also got married during a close season to remember.

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Happy in his home life and contented in his work, life could hardly be better for the talented 26-year-old.

Tomorrow week, Gale embarks on the next stage of his development when he leads the Lions to the United Arab Emirates.

Gale's team, which also includes Yorkshire spinners Adil Rashid and David Wainwright, will play one-day games against the host nation, Pakistan A and the full England side in what promises to be a good examination of a young team's credentials.

A few short months ago, Gale would simply have been happy to tour with the Lions following an encouraging summer at county level.

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But the honour of captaining a team that also includes England Test star Ian Bell took many by surprise – not least Gale himself.

"It was something of a surprise to get the captaincy but an absolutely wonderful honour," said Gale, who recently became Yorkshire's youngest captain since Brian Sellers when he was appointed in succession to Anthony McGrath.

"In recent years, England have tended to appoint captains with a bit more experience but this promises to be an ideal grounding for me.

"I captained a four-day game in South Africa before Christmas with the England Performance Programme and I think the England management were quite impressed with the way I went about my business.

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"Hopefully, I can repay that faith in the United Arab Emirates and also contribute some runs with the bat."

Gale admits events have moved swiftly during the past couple of years.

The Dewsbury-born left-hander has played only 47 first-class games, scoring 2,340 runs at 32.50, but Yorkshire and England have identified something special.

"Sometimes I'm surprised by how fast it's all come about but sport can go like that," said Gale.

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"Two years ago, I was fighting for a place in the Yorkshire first XI and now I'm leading the Lions, but I know I've still got a lot to learn.

"When I was younger I think I was probably held back a bit longer than I wanted to be and I'd like to have been exposed a little bit earlier.

"But I'm not scared about the speed that things have happened and I'm extremely excited about the challenges ahead."

Part of the reason Gale has ascended to captaincy material is the way he has matured on and off the field.

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Never a shrinking violet in a dresssing room environment, he has impressed with his no-nonsense attitude and cricketing brain.

"I feel as though I've been quite an important player over the last couple of years in the Yorkshire dressing room," said Gale.

"The supporters obviously don't know which players stand up in team meetings and say things, and I think some of the things I've said have been quite influential.

"I've never been afraid to speak my mind and I've demanded the respect of the players in the Yorkshire side.

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"Since I first came on to the Yorkshire staff, I've always said what I think and that's stood me in good stead in terms of the captaincy."

One of Gale's most impressive attributes is his innate determination.

It is etched on his face when he is playing for Yorkshire and will be a major part of his leadership make-up.

"I've always been a passionate and determined bloke and it means a hell of a lot to me to play for Yorkshire," he added.

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"I only want players in my team who feel exactly the same way.

"I've asked the lads, 'How do you want to be remembered as a Yorkshire cricketer? Do you just want to be another stat in the yearbook, or do you actually want to win something?'

"I know they'll take that message on board."

Gale stressed the Lions tour was about more than enhancing personal ambitions.

"Obviously it's a great way for the lads to boost their international hopes but for me it's all about going there and winning," he said.

"I want to take a team out there that wants to go and win.

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"Sometimes a Lions tour can be an individual thing – players want to do well for themselves because they want to play for England.

"But the most important thing is that we win our games."

ANDREW GALE FACTFILE

Born: November 28, 1983, Dewsbury.

style: Left-hand bat, leg-break bowler.

First-class debut: 2004.

November 2007: Signed new three-year contract with Yorkshire.

December 2009: Appointed Yorkshire captain.

January 2010: Appointed England Lions captain for tour of UAE next month.

honours: England Under-15 to Under-19. Performance squad to South Africa 2009-10.

England Lions squad

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Andrew Gale (capt), Ian Bell, Michael Lumb, James Taylor, Craig Kieswetter, Steven Davies, Peter Trego, James Tredwell, Adil Rashid, Sajid Mahmood, Chris Woakes, Steven Finn, Steve Kirby, David Wainwright.

Schedule

February 10: UAE v England Lions (T20).

February 12: England Lions v Pakistan (T20).

February 14: England Lions v Pakistan (T20).

February 16: England Lions v Pakistan (T20).

February 17: England Lions v England (T20).

February 19: England v Pakistan (T20).

February 20: England v Pakistan (T20) .

February 22: England Lions v Pakistan A (50 overs).

February 24: England Lions v Pakistan A (50 overs).

February 26: England Lions v Pakistan A (50 overs).