Gale’s force to lift Tykes says Sayers (From York Press)

Gale’s force to lift Tykes says Sayers

12:08pm Saturday 30th January 2010 in

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Joe Sayers believes the appointment of Andrew Gale as Yorkshire’s new captain was a shrewd move by Martyn Moxon and Stewart Regan.

Gale, 26, was named as the county’s youngest ever professional skipper prior to Christmas, replacing Anthony McGrath.

“I think it’s a smart appointment because he’s going to have a lot of belief and conviction in what he does.

“He will send some strong messages to the players and the membership,” said Sayers, a fellow 26-year-old batsman.

“He’s developed into a top quality player in all forms of the game. He’s somebody who understands the club very well and the honour that goes with being the captain of this club.

“He has an open mind to new methods, and I have every confidence that he will do a good job.”

Sayers, like Gale, will not make any rash promises about a challenge for the County Championship title or outlandish statements about how they are going to win this competition or that competition.

“There have been a number of departures,” he continued. “And quite a few of the players who were emerging a couple of years ago have become relatively senior.

“It’s going to be hard work because a number of teams have made some key signings over the winter, and Division One cricket is very competitive now.

“I don’t think there any promises we can make, apart from the application to create something which is going to be useful in the long-term. It’s now all about investing in the people who you believe to be the future.

“We obviously want to work towards winning some silverware.”

Sayers was mentioned as being a contender for the captaincy himself when it was revealed that McGrath would step down, but the fact that he does not regularly play one-day cricket probably counted against him.

Even so, he will have an important job in 2010 and beyond because he is now one of those senior players that he referred to.

He continued: “It’s a nice feeling to have such an influence on the team. It’s an exciting opportunity.

“I think we’ve got a great opportunity to shape a new culture within the team and the club.

“The disadvantages appear to be a degree of youth and inexperience, but we’ve got some players who are maturing and developing. They’ve had some great representative experience over the last couple of months.

“It’s a great opportunity to start something that can be successful for a long period of time.”

Meanwhile, Yorkshire’s new overseas signing Ryan Harris claimed his second consecutive five-wicket haul as Australia downed Pakistan in a one-day international at Perth yesterday.

The 30 year-old snared 5-19 in just his third international, and his form has heightened the possibility that Yorkshire could be without the player for longer than they thought.

He was already due to miss the first month of the season because of Indian Premier League commitments.

But he looks a good bet to be selected for the World Twenty20, the one-day international matches against England and two more Twenty20s against Pakistan.

There are also Test matches to follow against Pakistan. If he is not selected for those, he may only arrive at Headingley in mid-July.