Yorkshire need to be more ruthless - Gillespie

Yorkshire drew with Kent in their opening game of the season after producing a performance that was by no means the best they will summon all summer but which Gillespie felt showed enough to suggest that his confidence in the squad is not misplaced.

The former Australia fast bowler did not try to hide the fact that Yorkshire were given a tough test by a Kent side who had the better of the game and who might have won it but for two key dropped catches.

First, Jonny Bairstow was dropped on 24 by Ben Harmison at second slip off Mark Davies in the Yorkshire first innings and went on to score 107, his first century at Headingley Carnegie.

Had that stuck, Yorkshire would have been 132-5 in reply to Kent’s first innings 537-9 declared and in clear danger of losing their first game back in Division Two.

The second reprieve came shortly before lunch yesterday after Yorkshire had been made to follow on, 173 runs adrift.

Former England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones grassed a straightforward opportunity when Davies found Joe Root’s outside edge.

Had that been taken, Yorkshire would have been 9-1 and the fielding side may well have gained a decisive initiative.

Instead, like Bairstow before him, Root took impressive advantage, going on to make 76 before he was first out after a stand of 115 with Joe Sayers, Yorkshire ending the match on 146-4.

“It was an interesting game and there are certainly areas we can be better at, there’s no doubt about that,” admitted Gillespie.

“But, overall, I’m very comfortable.

“It’s easy for me to say that because I’ve been watching the guys and have been around them when they’re preparing.

“This game didn’t go to script at times, but I know how the players are going – and they’re going well.”

It was with the ball that Yorkshire found life taxing, allowing Kent to add another 163 runs after they were 374-8 on the second morning.

The ninth-wicket pair of Matt Coles (103*) and Davies (58) posted 153 as the home side suddenly lost their way.

“We can certainly improve our disciplines with the ball,” said Gillespie.

“I felt we bowled well for a good portion of the game and then let the opposition get away, which we saw with that ninth-wicket stand.

“We need to be more ruthless in that respect and there were times when we perhaps went through the motions a little bit rather than showing that ruthlessness.

“But, full credit to Kent, they played well and made it difficult.”

There were plenty of positives from the match in Gillespie’s view.

“I was pleased with a lot of things,” he added.

“We had two century stands over the two innings and, from a bowling point of view, I was really happy with Adil Rashid and the way he went about his work, and also with Ajmal Shahzad, who’s had his injury problems.

“To come out and bowl the way he did was very pleasing, and I also thought Ryan Sidebottom hit his straps and bowled good lines and lengths.

“With the bat, Jonny Bairstow’s hundred was a class knock, while there were good performances from the likes of Joe Root and Gary Ballance.”

The draw was Yorkshire’s imperative when the final day commenced beneath charcoal skies.

They resumed on 316-6, still 72 runs short of the follow-on, with Rashid on 40 and Shahzad 17.

After Rashid reached his half-century from 93 balls, Shahzad had a life on 22 when Charlie Shreck dropped him off his own bowling.

The Yorkshireman added only three more runs before Shreck atoned by pinning him lbw.

Yorkshire slipped to 351-8 when Shreck had Sidebottom caught at second slip and then to 356-9 when Rashid threw the bat at Shreck and was caught behind, having scored 58 from 118 balls with eight fours.

Any thoughts that Rich Pyrah would not bat after breaking his left hand earlier in the game were immediately dispelled.

Displaying tremendous bravery and commitment, the all-rounder walked out with 32 runs still needed to avoid the follow-on.

However, with his bat in his right hand and his left hand tucked safely behind his back, Pyrah was bowled first ball by a good-length delivery from Shreck, and it was nice to see the Kent side pat Pyrah on the back as the players left the field.

“We left the decision up to Rich as to whether he batted or not,” explained Gillespie.

“It was very brave and the guts that he showed was phenomenal really.”

When Yorkshire followed-on, Root chopped on to a sharply turning off-break from Adam Riley, Joe Sayers went lbw to the same bowler, Andrew Gale was caught down the leg-side and Bairstow held at cover.

The last 26 overs were claimed by the weather – making 76 overs lost in total.