Somerset v Yorkshire: Yorkshire are urged to cut out spells of sloppy play

The Yorkshire captain said back-to-back matches at Somerset and Sussex would have a defining impact on Yorkshire’s season.

Gale’s men are third-bottom of Division One after managing one win in their opening six games.

But favourable results at Taunton and Hove would propel them towards the right end of the table as the Championship reaches its halfway stage.

Speaking ahead of today’s fixture at Taunton, Gale said: “I’ve said to the lads that over the next two weeks we’ll know whether we’re going to be fighting near the bottom of the table or whether we can get back up with the frontrunners.

“We’ve played some very good cricket at times but it’s just those little periods that have cost us – an hour here or an hour there.

“We just need to be more consistent and make sure we cut out those sloppy periods.

“We’ve shown we can compete with the best teams in the league and this next couple of weeks will be very important.”

Yorkshire are boosted by the return of Jonny Bairstow, Ajmal Shahzad and Anthony McGrath for today’s contest after they missed last week’s match against Lancashire at Liverpool.

Bairstow and Shahzad were in action for England Lions against Sri Lanka at Derby, while McGrath played for the second XI at Coventry as he continued his recovery from a back injury.

But Yorkshire will be without opening batsman Joe Sayers at Taunton, who top-scored in both innings of the Roses fixture.

Sayers was hit on the right foot while batting in that match and failed a fitness test yesterday afternoon.

Bairstow’s return means an end to Simon Guy’s fleeting comeback, the wicketkeeper having stood in during the Roses match and Sunday’s CB40 victory over Worcestershire.

Gerard Brophy has also left the squad owing to a thumb injury that has still not cleared up.

Yorkshire must pick themselves up after the Lancashire match, which they lost by six wickets with four balls to spare.

The home side chased down 121 in 15 overs as Yorkshire narrowly failed to escape with a draw.

The visitors were firmly on the back foot after conceding a first innings deficit of 188 having been dismissed for 141 on the opening day.

But they fought back well before the heartbreaking finale, scoring 308 in their second innings against a Lancashire side who powered to the top of the Championship.

“I said to the lads that to take it to the last over was a great effort really considering the way we started the match,” added Gale.

“I was very proud of the way the boys fought back.

“It was disappointing that Lancashire chased down the runs and I thought we showed a little bit of inexperience in the field – not stopping the twos, a couple of dropped catches here and there, and so on.

“It was a little bit of a ‘rabbits in headlights’ situation but we’ll learn from that.”

A match at Taunton should provide the perfect tonic for Yorkshire’s top-order, which has so far struggled for consistency.

The pitches at the County Ground are normally flatter than the M5 and several players will be looking to cash in.

One man especially keen to get a few runs under his belt will be Adam Lyth, who has managed 283 so far at 25.72.

Lyth had a great match at Taunton last year, scoring 142 and 93 on his way to becoming the fastest man in the country to 1,000 first-class runs.

“Lythy has been struggling a bit this season, so hopefully he’ll relish being back at Taunton,” added Gale.

“He’s been a little bit loose so far and has probably been searching for the ball a bit too much.

“But it’s always that second season thing – traditionally, you’ve got to work even harder in your second season and that’s the challenge he now faces.

“In your second season, people tend to find you out a bit more, they set better fields and bowl to your weaknesses, and as a batsman you’ve got to work harder to cope with that.”

Although Lyth has yet to make a big score this year, Gale believes the 23-year-old is on the right track.

“We’re still seeing those booming cover drives, which is a good sign,” he said.

“Against Lancashire, Lythy drove the first ball of the match from Jimmy Anderson for four and you think he’s in great touch.

“But then a loose shot cost him and of course you only get one chance as a batsman.

“Lythy is a quality player, though, and I’m sure we’ll see the best of him in the next few months.”