By Charlie Talbot-Smith
ANDREW GALE is happy to joke that it was his own bad form that cost Yorkshire the title last year.
But while consistent top order runs were a problem last year, in new signing Peter Handscomb they appear to have found the man to solve those problems.
The 25-year-old – announced as Yorkshire’s overseas signing just before Christmas – has made an extraordinary start to his Test career in Australia.
His Bradman-esque average of 99.75 after four Tests includes two centuries and two half-centuries against South Africa and Pakistan.
And while that level of brilliance is unsustainable, Gale is confident that he has found the right man to fill his own shoes in the Yorkshire batting line-up.
“It was my bad form that cost us last year to be honest with you,” joked Gale, who has hung up his spikes to take over as head coach from Jason Gillespie.
“I don’t want to pressurise him (Handscomb) too much but he has certainly shown what he can do since we signed him!
“We had our eye on him for a while – he fits the mould of the sort of player we are looking to get.
“We like up-and-coming players that are trying to prove themselves. Since we signed him he has done a terrific job and fingers crossed that continues.
“He looks like a lad with a steely character. From speaking to people about him, that is what I have heard – and also he is a good team man.
“That all fits in with what we want here – that willingness to perform at the highest level, as he has been. He wants to come over here and prove himself.
“We hope to have him for a long period. At the moment it is looking like he will be here for a decent chunk of the season to play across all formats.”
While Gale struggled last season, the rest of the top order were not much better in an erratic campaign in which they were shorn of stars such as Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow for the majority of the summer.
Handscomb – who had a previous spell in England with Gloucestershire in 2015 – has been tipped to come in at No.3 for the White Rose, even though he has done his best work in his fledgling Test career at No.5.
But Gale is confident that their batting woes of 2016 are now behind them. “It can go that way sometimes and we had a few guys struggling last year,” he said.
“Gary Ballance found it tough at the start of the season. Alex Lees and Adam Lyth both made 1,000 runs for the season but we didn’t have nearly enough big match-winning contributions.
“And, of course, we missed Jonny from the year before.
“Jack Leaning was in his second season and he struggled but we are all working hard to put that right in 2017.
“We are not totally sure whereabouts Peter will bat to be honest with you.
“It will depend somewhat on the availability of the England lads.
“It is looking like Rooty and Jonny will be around for the first few games of the season so at this point in time I am not sure.”
This piece originally featured in The Cricket Paper, January 13 2017
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