Promoted Yorkshire eye title to celebrate milestone

Nottinghamshire won the Championship in 2005 after securing promotion the previous summer, with Yorkshire pace bowler Ryan Sidebottom playing a significant part in both campaigns.

Otherwise, the teams going up have generally struggled; of the 30 promotion winners since the Championship was split into two divisions in 2000, 13 have gone straight back down again, while only six have finished in the top-three.

But Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale, speaking at the club’s annual pre-season press day at Headingley yesterday, believes his side have got what it takes to win the league in this landmark year.

“I think we can win the Championship,” said Gale.

“We definitely don’t just want to come up from the Second Division and say that the goal is to try to compete and avoid relegation; I don’t think that’s the message we want to be sending out to the players.

“The message to the players is, ‘Let’s go and win it.’

“And I think we’ve got the talent and commitment to do just that.”

Although statistical evidence suggests it will be hard, Gale believes that counts for nothing.

The Championship is unlike football’s Premier League, where you know that the likes of the Manchester clubs will be up at the top.

“In football it’s always the same two or three teams at the top every year but anyone can win the Championship this year,” said Gale.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re one of the clubs that’s just come up like us, or whether you won it the previous year; everyone’s got a chance.

“We’ve seen in the past that Lancashire and Yorkshire have both won the competition and then been relegated the following year, so anything’s possible,” added Gale.

“Just look at Warwickshire; you wouldn’t perhaps have tipped them to win the title at the start of last summer, but they’ve got some workmanlike cricketers who performed consistently well and got their rewards.”

Optimism is usual at this time of the year but there appears to be a genuine belief among the Yorkshire squad.

Gale’s positivity was echoed by England stars Tim Bresnan and Jonny Bairstow, who feel the Championship is well within Yorkshire’s capability.

“We can definitely challenge and I think we’ve probably got the best bowling attack that we’ve had in my time at the club,” said Bresnan, who is on course to play in the three-day friendly against Lancashire from April 16 as he continues his comeback following an elbow operation.

“We’ve got some real firepower in the pace bowling department and we’ll be able to rest seamers for different competitions as well, which should keep the lads fresh and enable us to do well in all formats.

“It’s an exciting year for us being back in the First Division and with our 150th anniversary as well, and you only have to look around the place with all the pictures of the old players to appreciate the tremendous history of this club,” he said.

“Of course, the Championship is a marathon, not a sprint, so we know we’re going to have to play consistent cricket to win the trophy.”

Bairstow, back from England’s tour of New Zealand, believes consistency is key for Yorkshire this summer.

“The challenge for us in the Championship is to put in successive performances that give us a chance of winning the title,” he said.

“It’s going to be a test of our skill and patience to do as well as we can throughout the season.

“It’s really exciting to be back with the lads and there’s a tremendous feeling around the place.

“It’s a fantastic time for the club, what with it being our 150th year as well, and we can’t wait to get going.”

Bairstow is looking forward to some match action after the winter tours to India and New Zealand.

The batsman/wicketkeeper, who described both trips as a great learning experience, is set to play in the three-day friendly against Leeds/Bradford MCCU at Headingley, which starts tomorrow, having also been made available by England for the opening four Championship games.

“I’ve been netting quite a lot whilst I’ve been away and I’m really looking forward to getting my teeth stuck into the coming season,” he added.

“Everything else (England) will take care of itself; that’s out of my hands and it’s all about putting the performances in.

“I’m just wanting to do well for the county and we’ve worked hard as a club to get back into the First Division.

“We’ve made some really good signings and it’s a tremendous place to be at the moment.”