Hampshire v Yorkshire: Gale refuses to sacrifice side's attacking edge despite defeat

The Yorkshire captain left the armband duties to Jacques Rudolph at Taunton as he attempted to further his international ambitions with the England Lions.

And in his absence Yorkshire's blistering start to the campaign – which had included three wins and two draws in the County Championship and four straight victories in the CB 40 League – came to a shuddering halt as they lost by six wickets to Somerset.

Rudolph, having been in consultation with Gale the night before the final day's play, declared Yorkshire's second innings on 333-4 after the visitors had built a 28-run lead from the first innings.

Both Rudolph and Somerset captain Marcus Trescothick had contrived before play to engineer a finish and the South African's declaration left Somerset chasing 362 for victory in 68 overs.

Trescothick's men had chased down 476 at a similar rate of five an over in the corresponding fixture last season, and lightning struck again as James Hildreth saw them home with an unbeaten 102, forged predominantly with Zander de Bruyn in a fourth-wicket stand worth 149 runs.

Now back directing team-talks in the dressing room, on the pitch and on the long coach journey down to the Rose Bowl yesterday, Gale is adamant that Rudolph made not only the right call, but a decision that will define Yorkshire's bold approach throughout the season.

"Ever since I took the captaincy of the team I said my side would be an attacking side," said Gale, Yorkshire's youngest captain for three quarters of a century when appointed in December.

"And we stick to those principles.

"Admittedly it didn't turn out too well for the lads but hopefully we can bounce back this week.

"I sent a text round to the lads on Thursday night saying that yes we lost, but that's the brand of cricket we're playing this year and sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.

"On another day we might have bowled them out.

"I spoke to Jacques the night before the final day and we agreed what to do, he knew how the pitch was playing throughout the match and made the call.

"It was just a case of not executing our skills on the day.

"In the end we got lucky because Notts lost to Hampshire so we didn't lose too much ground, but that just further justifies the decision we made because we would have gone top of the league had we bowled Somerset out.

"With that brand of cricket we'll win more games than we lose."

Yorkshire took six points from the match, and forfeited only three from not forcing a draw from Rudolph's bold declaration.

Despite defeat they actually gained ground on leaders Nottinghamshire who picked up only five points as they lost for the first time this season, against Hampshire.

Today's opening day against Hampshire marks a busy period of eight days of County Championship play in nine days, with their scheduled trip back home on Friday followed swiftly by the Roses Match against Lancashire which commences on Saturday at Headingley Carnegie.

That match could prove pivotal going into a lengthy break for the Friends Provident Twenty20 competition, given Lancashire's own impressive form which has moved them to within six points of second-placed Yorkshire in the Division One table.

Two-time defending champions Durham also lurk ominously, although their slow start to the season has left them needing two maximum-point wins to overhaul the leading trio.

Not that Gale is paying such close attention to the league table, nor to the dangers the opposition might pose a Yorkshire side full of belief despite their Taunton hiccough.

For the 26-year-old from Dewsbury, it is all about what his Yorkshire team have done all season, and what they will continue to do againnst Hampshire today.

"It's not really about the opposition for me," said Gale.

"It's about how we go about executing our skills and making sure on the first morning against Hampshire we are on the money, and fully focussed.

"It's important that we continue the processes that have got us into this position in the first place and what we have adhered to all season."

Gale's return from international duty means Gary Ballance drops out of the squad.

West Indies pace bowler Tino Best passed a fitness test yesterday morning on the niggling quad muscle injury he picked up on the final day at Taunton.

Gale made 74 in the first innings for the Lions against Bangladesh last week at Derby, as the Yorkshire captain continued his international journey.

"It was a good experience to be around the set-up again," said Gale.

"My ultimate aim is to be an international cricketer and the more you're around the international set-up the more you get used to it.

"Plus I was pleased with the contribution I made with bat in hand."

MATCH FOCUS

Hampshire form

Hampshire are second-bottom of Division One. They began with four successive defeats against Essex, Durham, Warwickshire and Notts before a high-scoring home draw against Somerset and a two-wicket triumph against Notts at Trent Bridge.

One to watch

Sean Ervine: The Zimbabwe-born batsman is one of the leading run-scorer in this year's Championship with 553 at 61.44, 59 runs behind the man who tops the charts... Yorkshire's Adam Lyth on 622.

Head to head

Of the 159 County Championship matches between the sides, Yorkshire have won 72, Hampshire 19, and 68 games have been drawn.

Weather

The Met Office is predicting sunny conditions for much of the game.

Yorkshire squad

Sayers, Lyth, McGrath, Rudolph, Gale (capt), Brophy, Bairstow, Rashid, Wainwright, Best, Patterson, Hannon-Dalby, Sanderson, Pyrah.