Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale has sent a warning to the rest of LV= County Championship division one ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Durham at Headingley.

The White Rose county secured a thumping nine-wicket win over Worcestershire inside three days at New Road over the weekend, winning their first match of the season for the second year running.

It has led to a number of pundits installing them as title favourites.

But Gale said: “We played some good cricket against Worcester, but I don’t think we played our best cricket – not by a long way. There’s plenty more to come from us.

“I thought we weren’t quite at our best in certain areas, but the main thing is that we stuck to our task.”

One of those areas Gale pinpointed will no doubt be their top order batting after they slipped to 155-7 in their first innings before an eighth-wicket stand of 149 between Gerard Brophy and Ryan Sidebottom rescued the situation.

But, with Anthony McGrath set to return from injury tomorrow in place of youngster Joe Root, there is no need to panic.

“The game proved just how important our lower order can be,” said Gale.

“Ryan has shaped up well in pre-season. He has taken his batting seriously, and I think Steve Patterson was a bit gutted to be dropped down to ten. But we’ve seen just what Sid can do.”

Durham, champions in 2008 and 2009, started their campaign with a draw against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.

But they will travel to Headingley with a number of injury concerns after opener Mark Stoneman broke a hand during a fielding drill on Saturday morning and former England bowler Steve Harmison took a blow on his forearm while batting.

With pace bowler Mark Davies still on the sidelines, captain Phil Mustard could be forced into playing Graham Onions following 15 months on the sidelines with a back problem.

“It should be a cracking game,” said Gale. “It will certainly be a tougher test than Worcestershire because they are a good side.

“You can never write them off in a Championship race because they will be there or thereabouts at the end of a season.

“We have got to be right on our game if we are to get anything out of the fixture.”

One man certain to play tomorrow is White Rose leg-spinner Adil Rashid, who claimed a career best 11 wickets in the match at New Road under the gaze of England’s chief selector Geoff Miller.

Gale added: “It’s quite uncanny for a spinner to be taking 11 wickets in the second week of April, but I thought he bowled outstandingly well.

“Over the last few years I think he’s always been knocking on England’s door, but I don’t think he’s the finished article either. He’s still got areas of his game that he needs to improve.

“He can be a genuine all-rounder. He needs to knuckle down with the bat.”