Gillespie tucking into new task

Jason Gillespie has worked hard to ensure his Yorkshire players are fully prepared for their LV= County Championship promotion push.

The White Rose failed to build on a promising 2010 as inconsistent performances cost them their place in the top flight last season and also saw them struggle in the limited-overs formats.

But with a shake-up in their coaching staff, which saw former Australia paceman Gillespie installed as new first-team coach, and a strong pre-season in the Caribbean behind them, Yorkshire have already showed signs of promise for the new campaign.

Andrew Gale’s side overcame fellow counties Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire to lift the Barbados Twenty20 Cup, their first trophy since 2008 when they won the Pro ARCH tournament in Abu Dhabi, and Gillespie has been impressed with the players application and commitment.

"Their dedication to their preperation has been fantastic and we’re bringing an element of fun as much as we can," Jason Gillespie said

“The players have been fantastic, they have known what they wanted to do and are prepared to do the work,” he told ecb.co.uk. “They have done that and been nothing short of sensational. Their preperation has been fantastic.

“I have been really pleased. Their dedication to their preperation has been fantastic and we’re bringing an element of fun as much as we can. After all, that’s what we are in the game of cricket for, I love coaching and I loved playing.

“For me it’s all about enjoyment and if you are working hard and preparing as best as you can, with that little bit of a fun factor, you will enjoy yourself a lot more. Hopefully that can bring some good performances on the field.

“The lads have worked incredibly hard and I’m delighted they have put the time, effort and everything into their games, including their diet, nutrition and fitness preperation. They have also been implementing their game plans as well as they can. It’s been ideal.

“We want to keep improving, that’s out goal, our motto for the season. If we keep raising the bar and keep our standards high, we are hoping that will result in good performances.”

Gillespie reserved special praise for captain Gale, a team-mates during his time as an overseas player at Headingley Carnegie in 2006 and 2007, and expects him to work successfully with new vice-captain Joe Sayers.

“Gale’s had a wonderful start,” Gillespie said. “We spoke about getting outside and spending some time in the middle and he’s done that. It’s been great for him and he’s led the side wonderfully well.

“They are good mates and they bounce ideas off each other, which is great. It’s important and a wonderful appointment for Joe Sayers to be vice-captain.

“It is something he thoroughly deserves and he will bring a lot to Yorkshire in that role.”

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