TUESDAY POLL: Time to deliver one-day success, urges Gillespie

Yorkshire play five games in nine days in the Royal London One-Day Cup, starting with today’s day/night match against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road (2.00pm start).

First-team coach Gillespie was unhappy with his side’s performance when they lost by three wickets in their last 50-over outing against Gloucestershire at Headingley last Tuesday.

Yorkshire collapsed from 45-2 to 45-5 – and then from 174-5 to 192 all-out – before squandering a get-out-of-jail-free card after reducing their supposedly inferior opponents to 83-6.

Gillespie’s displeasure was heightened by the fact that the result came just three days after Yorkshire won their opening 50-over match in magnificent style against Lancashire at Old Trafford.

Yorkshire triumphed by 47 runs after scoring 324-7, their eighth-highest one-day total, to show what they are capable of in limited-overs cricket.

With today’s third 50-over game closely followed by the visit of Worcestershire to Headingley on Thursday, a trip to Leicestershire on Friday and matches at Scarborough against Essex on Monday and Derbyshire tomorrow week, this is a key phase as Yorkshire look to book their quarter-final place.

The top four teams from both of the nine-team groups qualify, with Yorkshire’s final group game against Hampshire at Southampton a fortnight on Thursday.

“We were ordinary in all facets of the game against Gloucestershire and we need the guys to stand up and make some significant contributions,” said Gillespie.

“With the bat, 30s and 40s don’t cut it – simple as that.

“You need big contributions and batters who are going to see the game through. That is what the top-four is there for, and we need to improve on that this week.

“Of course, you had to give Gloucestershire some credit, but we still should have won that game having then had them six-down for 80-odd. It was really disappointing after we’d played so well against Lancashire, and we’ve certainly communicated our feelings to the lads.

“By and large, we’ve been good at learning from our mistakes this year, but we’ve had a few poor batting displays lately as well as some extremely good ones.

“It’s all about consistency, and after a bit of a break since our last 50-over game, hopefully we can come back fresh and hungry to attack this next period of the season.”

Gillespie’s men are gunning for silverware on two fronts as the summer enters its home straight.

They lead the County Championship by five points with four games left, but although that competition remains their top priority, they believe they can go all the way in the 50-over tournament too.

“We’re a very good side and our goal is to win every game we play,” stressed Gillespie.

“At the same time, we know there are a lot of good sides in English county cricket and we can’t afford to take anything for granted.

“But we believe we have the squad to really challenge and put pressure on opposition teams, and that’s why it was so disappointing to lose to Gloucestershire.

“That’s gone now, and we just need to dust ourselves off and focus on our next challenge at Northants.”

On paper, it is another game Yorkshire should win at a ground where they have already prevailed this summer in the Championship and T20.

Northamptonshire have also started their 50-over campaign with a win and a defeat, beating Gloucestershire by four wickets at Cheltenham before losing by 88 runs to Worcestershire at Milton Keynes.

“We’ve won down at Northants twice this year but that won’t count for anything,” said Gillespie. “Northants at their place are going to be tough, and if we think any different, we could come a cropper.

“We need to be switched on and ready to go right from the start. If we focus on getting our processes right, our consistency right, the end result will take care of itself.”

Yorkshire are set to make one change to the team that lost to Gloucestershire, with Andrew Hodd replacing Jonny Bairstow behind the stumps.

Bairstow is on England Lions duty this week in a tri-series involving New Zealand A and Sri Lanka A.

“As I always say, we’re very lucky to have someone of Andrew’s quality to stand in for Jonny when he’s not available,” said Gillespie.

“I’ve got no problem whatsoever with bringing Andrew in.”

Oliver Robinson, the 20-year-old all-rounder sacked by Yorkshire last week for what the club termed “a number of unprofessional actions”, is set to play for Hampshire in their Second XI Championship match against Middlesex at Radlett, starting today.

Robinson has secured a trial with the county and is also thought to have attracted the interest of Glamorgan and Derbyshire.

Yorkshire squad versus Northamptonshire: Gale (captain), Bresnan, Brooks, Fisher, Hodd, Leaning, Lees, Lyth, Patterson, Pyrah, Rashid, Williamson.