Lancashire v Yorkshire: We can win championship is Roses clarion call from Moxon

Yorkshire's director of professional cricket had previously stopped short of saying his team can win the league, arguing he wanted to wait until the season's halfway stage before delivering his verdict.

But as Yorkshire prepare to embark on the second half of their Championship programme against Lancashire at Old Trafford this morning, Moxon said he had now seen enough to convince him his players have got what it takes.

Yorkshire are second in the league – nine points behind leaders Nottinghamshire – after three wins and four draws from their opening eight games.

"I think we're capable of winning the Championship," said Moxon.

"I said I could only really make a proper judgement at the halfway stage of the season and now we've reached that point, I honestly believe we're genuine challengers.

"We've had a very good first half of the campaign and I don't think our form has been a flash in the pan.

"On the contrary, I think there's a belief among the players and a skill level among the players that convinces me we can mount a challenge, although we'll probably need to win at least three or four of our last eight games to win the competition."

Despite expressing confidence in his side's capabilities, Moxon sounded a note of caution.

Yorkshire have had a frustrating habit in recent years of playing well for half the season and poorly for the other half.

"We can't afford to let that happen this time," he added.

"It's been a problem for us in the past and we need to maintain our high standards for the whole summer.

"I'm delighted with the way things have gone up to now, but everyone knows there's a long way to go.

"We haven't achieved anything yet and if we're going to start winning Championships and one-day tournaments, we need to show consistency to finish the job."

Yorkshire received a warning in their last Championship game at home to Lancashire as to what can happen if they take their eye off the ball.

Yorkshire were disappointing in that match and Lancashire may well have prevailed at Headingley Carnegie but for the intervention of rain.

"We turned in a disappointing batting performance and we can't afford for that to happen this week," said Moxon.

"For some reason we weren't quite on top of our game, and we need to guard against those passages of play.

"We have a young group of players and with young players you always have your ups and downs along the way.

"But I'm very confident the players will stay focused and that they've got the right attitude to stay the course."

Yorkshire's performances have eclipsed Moxon's expectations.

"I said from the outset that I wasn't sure how this season would go," he added.

"I was obviously hopeful and I knew what the players were capable of, but it was also something of a step into the unknown.

"But the way we've played has been very pleasing, and I've been delighted with the lads who've come into the side.

"The players are performing with plenty of confidence and our recent form in Twenty20 has been particularly good."

Like every county, Yorkshire face a swift turnaround when they go straight into a four-day match today following a plethora of Twenty20.

It is bound to take time for the players to readjust, with no practice time for four-day cricket.

"The fixture list is far from ideal and the players have to mentally switch very quickly back to four-day cricket," said Moxon.

"All of a sudden they've got to go back to batting for long periods, or bowling different lines, and it's bound to be strange until they readjust.

"From our point of view, I would like to have had at least one day of practice before the Lancashire game instead of going straight into that match on the back of Twenty20.

"But it's the same for every county, I guess, and we've just got to get on with it."

Yorkshire will be led by Jacques Rudolph today in the absence of club captain Andrew Gale.

Gale is on England Lions duty and will also miss next week's Championship home game against Warwickshire.

"Andrew is a big loss for us – both in terms of his batting as well as his captaincy," said Moxon.

"It will be a test of character for us to cope in his absence."

Today's match marks a return to first-team duty for opening batsman Joe Sayers and pace bowler Oliver Hannon-Dalby, who have not been deployed in Twenty20.

Both have kept their hand in playing second team cricket, however, and Moxon insists they will be properly prepared.

Yorkshire will also be eyeing a big contribution from Adil Rashid, who has an excellent track record at Old Trafford.

The leg-spinner has captured 13 first-class wickets at the ground at 27.00; only at Headingley (55), Scarborough (37) and the Rose Bowl (17) has he taken more. "Adil has bowled very well in the Twenty20 competition and he'll go into the Championship with a lot of confidence because of that," insisted Moxon.

"Obviously it's a different type of bowling and he'll have to get back to giving the ball a little bit more air in four-day cricket, but I'm sure it won't be a problem for him.

"Adil looks in good shape at the moment and always seems to enjoy bowling at Old Trafford.

"The pitch usually does a little bit for him, so I'm sure he'll enjoy it."