Andrew Gale is desperate to win the Friends Life t20 with Yorkshire this summer.

The county’s skipper is as disappointed as anyone at their performances in cricket’s shortest format down the years, which has included just two quarter-final appearances in the nine seasons since its inception in 2003.

Yorkshire are one of only three counties never to have reached Finals Day – Worcestershire and North Division rivals Derbyshire being the others.

But Gale can see light at the end of the tunnel, especially on the back of them winning an inter-counties competition while on pre-season tour in Barbados in March.

The recent signing of David Miller, the hard-hitting South African batsman, is a signal of intent, as is the make-up of their preparation, which includes a friendly match against Bradford League side Cleckheaton tomorrow night.

Yorkshire will also play some inter-squad matches this week ahead of Friday’s North Division opener against Durham at Headingley.

But, while the Cleckheaton match may be termed as a friendly, Gale says it is anything but.

“We’ll be playing it as a proper game because we haven’t had a great build-up to Twenty20 over the last few years,” he stated.

“It doesn’t matter who you play against in Twenty20, it’s a game of momentum. If you get into some good form by winning a few matches, you turn up to the ground and you don’t feel like you’re going to lose a match.

“I’m hoping this week will provide us with an opportunity to get into that form.

“To win Twenty20 would be massive for us. Our main objective is to get out of Division Two in the Championship, but I’d put Twenty20 cricket just behind it.

“To be there on Finals Day holding a trophy, it would be a massive thing for Yorkshire cricket, especially given the poor run in this form of the game in the past. I think this could really be a turning-point for us.

“The cricket we played in Barbados, we found a formula that worked for us in Twenty20 cricket. Yes it was a pre-season tour, but hopefully we can take that formula into the competitive matches. There’s a good buzz around the team at the moment. You can feel that.”

Yorkshire will play a full-strength team against Cleckheaton, although Iain Wardlaw will play for his club team if not selected by his county. Miller could debut.