ANDREW GALE believes a lack of rhythm to his batting has been the reason for a barren run of form in Twenty20 cricket.

The Yorkshire captain scored his first 20-over 50 in a little over two years earlier this week, a 51-ball 55 in a win over Leicestershire at Headingley on Tuesday.

In 2010, 2011 and 2012, the left-handed opener had scored ten half-centuries with a best of 70, and he was one of the county’s most prolific run getters in the game’s shortest format.

Since hitting 70, ironically against Leicester at Headingley in June 2012, his form has hit the buffers.

In the 17 innings between his fifties against the Foxes, he had not reached 40.

“Twenty20 has always been my forte, and it’s the one I’ve probably excelled in more than any other,” said Gale, pictured above.

“For whatever reason, I’ve just lacked some rhythm in my batting. My Championship form of late has felt really good. It has felt free-flowing.”

He added: “T20 is one of those games where you need to get some momentum, and I seem to have been hitting the fielders and all the catches have gone to hand.

“I did have a little chat with Martyn Moxon and Jason Gillespie about some little things that I’ve probably changed for the better in Championship cricket that haven’t worked for me in Twenty20 cricket. It’s getting the balance right, really.”

Yorkshire are back in LV= County Championship action against Durham at Headingley on Monday.