Somerset v Yorkshire: Captaincy proving a breeze for inspirational young leader Gale

County Championship

ANDREW GALE has paid tribute to Michael Vaughan for the help he has given him since he took over the Yorkshire captaincy.

They speak several times a week on the phone about matters on-and-off the field.

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Vaughan was appointed in a consultancy role by Yorkshire during the close season to help mentor Gale and advise on the recruitment of overseas players, and the arrangement appears to be working well.

Although Vaughan is very much hands-off and will rarely attend games, it makes sense for Gale and the club to make use of the former England captain's considerable experience.

In praising Vaughan, however, Gale has overlooked arguably the single biggest reason for Yorkshire's outstanding start to the season – himself.

For no matter how much Vaughan has provided sage advice from the sidelines, it is Gale who has gelled a young team into a highly impressive, winning unit.

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The 26-year-old batsman, who had played only 47 first-class games prior to this season, has adapted to the job superbly and got the best from his team with a relaxed brand of leadership.

They have responded to his attacking, no-nonsense style and have a spring in their step and a smile on their face.

As such, Yorkshire go into today's County Championship match against Somerset at Taunton targeting their fourth win in six games – a remarkable statistic given they were widely tipped to be relegated going into the campaign.

Another win in the West Country would leave no-one in doubt that Yorkshire have what it takes to stay the course and mount a genuine title challenge.

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They will be boosted by the fact they have already beaten Somerset this year – Gale inspiring a six-wicket triumph at Headingley with innings of 101 and 64 not out – and will be spurred by painful memories of the corresponding fixture last summer.

No-one was more visibly deflated than Gale when Somerset incredibly chased down 476 to record the second-highest run-chase in Championship history, although the captain will miss this week's game following his call-up by England Lions for Wednesday's match against Bangladesh at Derby, with Jacques Rudolph leading Yorkshire in his place.

There are several reasons why Gale's appointment as captain has been such a success.

First, he has formed an excellent rapport with Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire's director of professional cricket, whom he complements perfectly in character and temperament.

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Moxon and last year's captain, Anthony McGrath, were perhaps too similar in that respect, whereas there is more of a ying and yang element to the Gale/Moxon pairing.

Second, despite his tender years, Gale seems a natural captain and leader of men.

Some people at the club have likened him to South Africa captain Graeme Smith, but he arguably has more in common with Vaughan, who favoured the same relaxed approach.

Indeed, one of the most noticeable aspects has been that Yorkshire have not panicked under pressure, but thrived on it and used it to their advantage.

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Whereas last year they were prone to quite dreadful sessions where they would lose clumps of wickets in a heap or have a shocker of a time with the ball, they are performing on a much more even keel this year and do not become so readily alarmed.

They have shown this new-found resilience on several occasions. Against Warwickshire in the first game of the season, for example, they were wobbling on 123-5 chasing 291 on the last day before they were coolly guided home by Rudolph and Jonathan Bairstow.

Then, when Somerset came to Leeds, Yorkshire were 17-2 before Gale's gritty knock helped them to a nuisance target of just under 200 in tandem with Adam Lyth.

The third reason Gale has flourished is because the majority of the Yorkshire side grew up with him and admire him.

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He has their esteem and respect, which has meant the smoothest of transitions and has created the sense of a team working together.

The old Yorkshire players of the 1950s and 1960s often say the same spirit of togetherness – of Yorkshireness, if you will – made them one of the greatest teams in the history of the game after they, too, all grew up together.

And although Gale does not have a Trueman, Close or Illingworth at his disposal, he does have some fine performers who will only get better in the years ahead.

There is no reason why this spirited young outfit should not achieve a top-three finish, nor why Gale's honeymoon period should come to an end anytime soon.

MATCH FOCUS

Somerset form

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Marcus Trescothick's men are seeking their first victory in the Championship after three draws and two defeats. They are without Craig Kieswetter, the batsman/wicketkeeper who has been on Twenty20 World Cup duty.

One to watch

Peter Trego: Yorkshire need no introduction to the 28-year-old, who won the corresponding fixture last year with a stunning innings of 103 not out from 54 balls with nine sixes and six fours.

Head to head

Of the 162 County Championship matches between the sides, Yorkshire have won 88, Somerset 20, and 54 games have been drawn.

Weather

The Met Office is predicting a mixture of sunshine and showers.

Yorkshire squad

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