Gale is relishing reunion
YORKSHIRE batsman Andrew
Gale is looking forward to testing
himself against England
pace exile Steve Harmison at
Riverside today.
The left-hander scored 68
against Durham when they met
in the Friends Provident Trophy
at Headingley recently. He
notched 50 off just 42 balls,
pulling and cutting Harmison
with particular ferocity, before
edging him to Gareth Breese in
the slips.
"I faced him last Monday, and
I came out on top then. Hopefully
I can do it again," said the 24-
year-old, who has started 2008 at
a rollicking pace. "He bowled a
little bit short at me then, and I
am sure that he will admit that
he is still lacking that little bit
of rhythm. But the pace was OK
- he will only get better."
Gale took the positives out of
Sunday's shock Friends Provident
Trophy defeat to Lancashire,
after the hosts bounced
back from the dead at 76-5 to
chase an unlikely 214 inside 45
overs.
"It was disappointing, and we
were a bit unfortunate in the
end," he continued. "But I know
that Martyn (Moxon) and
Goughy were quite pleased with
some of the cricket we played.
"We didn't start too well, but
came back strong to get ourselves
back into a very strong position.
We need to make sure
that we bounce back.''
He added: "Durham is going to
be a big game, Durham are always
strong. They haven't started
that well, but are always a
threat with players like Steve
Harmison, Michael Di Venuto
and Phil Mustard."
Yorkshire have had a healthy
start to the new campaign in
both forms of the game. They are
third in the Championship after
just two game - the teams above
them have played three.
And, despite their defeat to
Lancashire, they are still
favourites to qualify for the
quarter finals of the Friends
Provident. This week will determine
a lot, with Scotland lying
in wait at the Grange in Edinburgh
on Sunday.
Yorkshire could still have England
bowler Matthew Hoggard
available to play some part
against Durham if he is not selected
in the final Test match
eleven to face New Zealand at
Lord's tomorrow.
The England and Wales Cricket
Board allow any player released
from England duty to return
to a county game at any
stage in place of a pre-nominated
player.
Gale went on to praise Hoggard
for his strength of character
after returning to the England
fold after losing his place in
the winter. He said: "I thought
that he was made a scapegoat for
England's poor start to that tour,
and it was harsh to leave him
out.
"It has been a real test of character
for him, but he has gone
about his business the way that
Hoggy usually does."
11:06am Wednesday 14th May 2008
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