Consistency key to the trophy cabinet - Gillespie

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Supporters’ Pride: Clifford Gregg, of the Yorkshire County Cricket Supporters’ Association Committee with winners of the2011 Supporters’ awards that were presented at the lunch. Left to right: Gurman Randhawa (most wickets 2nd XI), Alex Lees (most runs 2nd XI) Jonathan Bairstow (most runs 1st XI and Ryan Sidebottom most wickets 1st XI)

Consistency was the theme of Yorkshire’s new first-team coach, Jason Gillespie, in a question-and-answer session at Yorkshire’s opening lunch in the Long Room at Headingley Carnegie today.

The former Australian Test ace admitted that the team were under some pressure: “Everyone wants to see Yorkshire perform well, and it is a challenge, but a healthy one. The players have prepared themselves well, and have been enjoying themselves. I don’t see the point of doing anything if you don’t have a smile on your face.”

Jason said the team had played some really good cricket on their pre-season tour of Barbados, and they had been rewarded for it with a couple of trophies: “If we strive for consistency this season the trophies will take care of themselves,”
he added. “We have a strong squad which can make it very tough for the opposition.”

Captain Andrew Gale said they had worked hard in Barbados on being more ruthless, and he was pleased that batsmen had made 100s rather than 60s or 70s.

Referring to the County Championship, Andrew stressed that there were some good teams in the Second Division. It was a different brand of cricket, with more matches ending inside three days than in the First Division, and Yorkshire had to make sure they were among the winning teams.

Director of Cricket Martyn Moxon said that although the priority was to get back into the First Division of the Championship they were keen to do well in one-day matches. A Lord’s final was something to strive for.

Yorkshire Chairman Colin Graves made presentations to Andy Fogarty and his groundstaff - Fogarty having scooped the ECB groundsman-of-the-year award in 2011 as well as coming runner-up for his one-day pitches - and to Michael Snook, who has retired after 15 years as second-team scorer.

Yorkshire Supporters’ Association awards for 2011 were made to Jonny Bairstow (most runs first team) Alex Lees (most runs second team), Ryan Sidebottom (most wickets first team) and Gurman Randhawa (most wickets second team).

The compere at the lunch was Dave Callaghan, Yorkshire cricket commentator for BBC Leeds.