It’s in our hands and we will go for win, says Gale

Gale’s men go into their final game against Essex at Chelmsford today in a three-way shoot-out for the two promotion spots.

Yorkshire are second in the table, one point behind leaders Derbyshire and five ahead of third-placed Kent.

Derbyshire play Hampshire at Derby, while Kent take on Glamorgan at Cardiff.

“I’m confident the lads will handle the pressure,” said Gale, whose side have won their last two games against Gloucestershire and Glamorgan.

“I just feel an air of confidence around the dressing room and we don’t fear anyone. We’re in good form collectively having won our last two matches and most of the lads are in form personally.

“Someone always seems to step up to do the job, and we feel we can go and beat Essex this week.”

Yorkshire would definitely be promoted if they manage 19 points at the Ford County Ground.

To do that they would need to win the game, which would earn 16 points, and then claim at least three of a possible eight bonus points.

However, depending on how Kent get on in Cardiff, it is possible Yorkshire could be promoted with a draw or even a defeat.

Gale said Yorkshire could only concentrate on themselves and promised they would be trying to clinch promotion in the best possible manner – by racking up a third straight victory.

“It’s extremely tight at the top of the table, but we will be setting out to win the game,” he said.

“I always think that if you set out for a draw, you end up losing, whereas if you set out for a win you might get a draw but, if you play well enough, you might get the win.

“We’ll be trying to beat Essex and to play the positive cricket we know we’re capable of.

“We’re in the final promotion place at the moment so the bottom line is, it’s in our own hands.”

Yorkshire have named the same 12 players on duty for last week’s match against Glamorgan and added pace bowler Oliver Hannon-Dalby to the party. Essex are depleted in the bowling department, with leading wicket-taker David Masters out with a side strain and Maurice Chambers sidelined with a quad injury.

On paper, Yorkshire hold the aces as they look to return to Division One at the first attempt.

However, Gale said they would not underestimate mid-table 
Essex, who all-but mathematically ended Hampshire’s promotion chances with a 122-run victory at Southampton last week.

“Essex are no mugs,” stressed Gale. “On the contrary, they’re a very good side, which they proved by dominating their game against Hampshire.

“To be honest, I’m a little surprised they’re not up there themselves, what with the names they’ve got on their team sheet. We certainly won’t be taking them lightly.”

Yorkshire’s promotion push comes on the back of their appearance in Twenty20 Finals Day last month which, in turn, secured their passage to next month’s Twenty20 Champions League in South Africa.

It adds up to an exciting time for Gale and his team.

“This is what you play the game for,” he said.

“We’re still in the hunt for promotion, we’ve got the Champions League coming up, and it’s great for everyone concerned.

“Promotion is the main target, of course, and we feel we’ve been playing good cricket in the Championship all summer.

“The bad weather hasn’t helped, so it’s a tribute to the lads that we’re still up there fighting.”

It is more than possible, of course, that Yorkshire could end up winning the title, which carries £35,000 prize money to the winning club and a players’ prize pool of £87,000.

The club finishing runners-up receive £10,000, with the players sharing £52,000.

“The title is still on,” added Gale. “That’s what we set out to achieve at the start of the year and there’s still a good chance of going up as champions. So far, we’ve delivered, and we’re one week away from delivering the full monty, if you like. We’ve just got to take that final step.”

Yorkshire have submitted their 15-man squad for the Twenty20 Champions League.

England have made Jonny Bairstow available but want all-rounder Tim Bresnan to rest up ahead of a busy winter.

Yorkshire will take part in the Champions League qualifying phase, which is split into two groups of three teams.

Their qualifying games are against Sri Lankan Premier League winners Uva Next in Johannesburg on October 9 and Trinidad & Tobago at Centurion the following day. Yorkshire must top their pool to progress to the tournament proper.

Yorkshire’s Champions League squad: Gale, Ashraf, Bairstow, Ballance, Hannon-Dalby, Hodgson, Jaques, Lyth, Miller, Patterson, Rafiq, Rashid, Root, Sidebottom, Wardlaw.