Gale in the running to get Test call-up by England

Newell predicted the Yorkshire captain would be among those considered to take Collingwood’s place in the England top-order.

Collingwood retired from Test cricket following last winter’s Ashes series, leaving a vacancy at No 6.

Gale is vying for his place with the likes of Ravi Bopara and Eoin Morgan ahead of the Test series with Sri Lanka beginning on May 26.

Newell, the Nottinghamshire director of cricket who worked with Gale on the Lions tour to the West Indies earlier this year, admitted it would be tough for the Yorkshireman to leapfrog the competition.

But he is a firm admirer of the 27-year-old left-hander, who today leads Yorkshire in their County Championship match against Hampshire at Headingley Carnegie.

Speaking exclusively to the Yorkshire Post, Newell said: “Andrew Gale is the sort of player coaches love to have in their side.

“He sets a great example as captain and is a passionate Yorkshire player.

“He’s done well at every level up to Test level and I would think he’ll be on the shortlist of players they’re currently considering for the No 6 Test vacancy.

“Obviously he’ll be up against some very good players.

“It will be difficult to get past a Bopara or Morgan or even a Kieswetter.

“But Gale’s got guts and great fighting quality.

“I think England will have to decide within the next year to 18 months whether he is going to play at the highest level.

“I’ve certainly got a lot of time for him as a cricketer and a character.”

Gale was one of four Yorkshire players Newell took to the West Indies, the squad also including Adil Rashid, Adam Lyth and Jonny Bairstow.

He believes all could have a prosperous future.

“The four Yorkshire lads have all got something about them,” he added.

“It’s up to them to work hard and keep knocking on the door.

“England know all about Rashid, of course, and I think he’ll have to produce reasonably quickly with Durham’s Scott Borthwick being another highly-rated leg-spinner.

“Rashid needs to kick-on this summer and I think either him or Samit Patel will play as one-day back-up to Graeme Swann, depending on whether they want the best batsman or the best bowler.

“Lyth is an interesting cricketer because when you’re playing against him, you never really think he’s in.

“You always think he’s going to give you a chance to get him out because of the way he plays.

“He played a good cameo against us (at Trent Bridge last week) – lots of nice strokes and then a soft dismissal, so he’ll be looking to tighten up that aspect of his game,” he said.

“But he’s a very talented player and I’m sure he’ll continue to be part of the Lions set-up – winter tours, and so on, and then he could be ready when someone like Andrew Strauss moves on.”

Newell has also been impressed with Bairstow, who scored his maiden century (205) against Nottinghamshire last week.

“He’s a good player in all forms of the game,” said Newell. “He was really the second keeper on the winter tour, and I think he’s good enough just to be a batter to be honest.

“Going forward, the Lions will probably take him as a batter who keeps wicket rather than a keeper who bats.

“He’s a very hard-working cricketer and keen to impress.”

Bairstow and Ajmal Shahzad are likely to be the two Yorkshire players named in the latest Lions squad for the four-day game against Sri Lanka at Derby, starting tomorrow week.

England are also keen for Gale to take part, but Yorkshire are expected to put their foot down with one eye on the Championship Roses match at Liverpool and the CB40 game at Worcester, which Bairstow and Shahzad are now set to miss.

The Lions game will be managed by ECB staff rather than a county coach such as Newell.

But the ECB are keen to keep giving up-and-coming English coaches international experience with the Lions in the winter.

“I think they want English coaches to get an opportunity on these trips,” added Newell.

“I know Martyn (Moxon) has done something like it in the past, Mark Robinson did the U-19s last winter, and I think they want a broad group of coaches who’ve got international experience.”

Fresh from back-to-back games against Yorkshire in the Championship, Newell believes the title race is wide open.

“I certainly don’t see a standout team,” he admitted.

“We’ve won three games and yet we haven’t dominated anybody really, with our victory at Headingley the most ridiculous turnaround game ever if I’m honest.

“I think Yorkshire could be strong if they get Sidebottom, Bresnan and Shahzad in the same team.

“But run-scoring will be key with them – just as it is with us,” he added.

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