Expectation exceeds hope as Yorkshire CCC go in search of silverware in 2021

“I think everyone throughout the squad now is expecting rather than hoping,” said Moxon. “Without putting too much pressure on ourselves, I think that is an important shift in mentality.

“The younger players have a bit more experience now and they’re ready to make it their time, if you like. They’re desperate to do that.

“So there’s a good feel about the dressing room at the moment, an air of excitement and a belief that we can do well.

“Of course, we’ve got no divine right to win trophies and it’s that old adage of one day at a time, one game at a time, one session at a time – it’s all those kinds of processes that we need to break it down to.

“You can’t look too far ahead, but we’re pretty happy with where we are at the moment and we’re going into the season confident that we can have a good year.”

If any county has the potential to win all three trophies in a season – the County Championship, the One-Day Cup and the T20 Blast – it is arguably Yorkshire considering their size, resources and stature. But although they go into each season with that aim, it is an extraordinarily difficult task given the uncertainty over player availability due to international/franchise cricket and the usual vagaries with the weather/injuries.

“You always set out to try and win all three trophies, I’ve always said that,” said Moxon. “Otherwise, what’s the point of turning up? So we set out to win all three if we can.

“But I think to win one would obviously be very good, to win more than one would be outstanding, and if we can’t win a trophy then to at least be very competitive in all three formats would still be a good season, I think, and certainly would be progression.

“But, as we sit now, we’re setting out to try and win trophies, though we have to carry out the processes day-in, day-out to achieve that – and that’s the bottom line.

“That’s the only way you win trophies, by being consistent over a period of time and not just by having two or three good games.

“You don’t win by just turning up because you’ve got a good team on paper; you’ve got to earn the right and put in the performances that warrant victories.

“But, if we play to our capabilities, we’ve certainly got a chance.”

Although the Championship is Yorkshire’s priority, and the One-Day Cup important to them, they want success in the T20 Blast. Moxon believes that the signing of New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson could make a significant difference.

“When you add Lockie to that squad, we’d be desperately disappointed if we didn’t get to the quarter-finals at least,” said Moxon. “He’s a quality player and we’re delighted to have him.

“We’re not too far away in T20 cricket. We need to be better at closing out games but, on paper once again, we’ve got a good team with plenty of talented cricketers.”

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