Champions are ready for Hampshire despite washout

A wet outfield at Headingley put paid to Yorkshire’s final day of cricket prior to the visit of Hampshire to Leeds, with the second day against Leeds-Bradford having also been washed out after the students made 225-8 on day one.

“We are fully prepared and ready to go,” said Gillespie, whose side sat out the opening round of Championship matches this week.

“We’ve had a lot of cricket during pre-season and I’ve got absolutely no issues.

“Ideally, we would have liked some of our batters to have spent a bit of time in the middle against Leeds-Bradford, but it wasn’t to be.

“The weather put paid to that, unfortunately, but that’s just the nature of the beast and we’ll get some good training work done prior to the Hampshire game.”

Ironically, Yorkshire were able to net on the Headingley square yesterday in bright sunshine before working on their fitness.

It was only the damp surrounds that prevented any play, with heavy rain having fallen the previous day.

Although only 74.4 overs were possible in the match, which was not accorded first-class status, Gillespie was largely satisfied with Yorkshire’s performance. They were given a good workout by the students, for whom Logan Weston top-scored with an unbeaten 68 after Henry Thompson made 64.

“I thought we bowled okay and there were some signs,” said Gillespie.

“The students did well and it was a good workout. Other than that, there’s probably not much to say.

“We didn’t even get in a full day in the final analysis, but it was a useful exercise, nevertheless.”

Attention turns to the Hampshire game, for which Yorkshire are clear favourites against a team tipped by many to be relegated.

However, Gillespie knows that there are no whipping boys in a First Division that looks strong throughout.

“Hampshire are a very good side and very dangerous,” said Gillespie.

“They’ve got batsmen who have scored a lot of runs in county cricket who are very experienced, and they’ve got a bowling attack that has international experience as well as strong domestic form

“ We know that’s going to be a good challenge for us, but we feel that we’re ready.”

Hampshire’s Reece Topley has been ruled out for six weeks by the fractured right hand.

Nottinghamshire are the early leaders in Division One of the Specsavers County Championship after defeating Surrey by three wickets at Trent Bridge on a day in which four matches fell to bad weather.