ANDREW Gale has urged Yorkshire's batsmen to follow Gary Ballance's lead as they bid to turn around a worrying trend of below-par performances at the top of the order.

Coach Gale believes the failure to build partnerships and post match-winning totals will turn around if his players display the same fortitude captain Ballance showed in the opening defeat against Hampshire.

Ballance scored an excellent 120 in the first innings on his debut as the county's permanent skipper before adding 55 in the second.

Unfortunately, Andrew Hodd was the only other Yorkshire player to pass 50 in the match as they were bowled out for 273 and 187 to slip to a three-day defeat.

Despite 1,000 runs coming from openers Adam Lyth and Alex Lees last year, Yorkshire were four or more wickets down for less than 100 in the Championship on 12 occasions and were pipped to the title by Middlesex. They were also three down for 57 or fewer on four other occasions.

Against Hampshire last week, Yorkshire – who had established a first-innings lead of 132 – slipped to 57-3 in their second innings before allowing the visitors the chance to chase down 320.

Gale said: "It's been a problem for a few years, I'm not just talking the one game. It's something we'll keep addressing.

"We've had good preparation leading into the season. Everyone's had time at the crease and they feel in good form.

"The disappointing thing is that guys have got starts. The two openers had starts in both innings and didn't go on. You just want to see that determination Gary showed in the other batters.

"We could have put the game to bed. I didn't think it was a 180-odd all out pitch. We could have applied ourselves better.

"Had we got 220-250 and they be chasing 400, it's a different game. If we'd had a couple more guys play like Gary, we'd have got over the line."

Ballance has an amazing record as a first-class captain. In 11 first-class fixtures leading either Yorkshire or Zimbabwean side MidWest Rhinos on an ad hoc basis, he has scored eight hundreds and five further fifties.

Gale said: "When you take over the captaincy, and I've been there myself, you want to show people the captaincy's not going to affect your runs and get that off your back early. It's difficult because it's a different pressure.

"You could see the determination in Gary's batting. He was willing to roll his sleeves up and lead from the front. That's what you want to see from your skipper and I'm really pleased for him."

Ballance, delighted with his own form, has backed his team-mates to come good.

He said: "As a team, we have some very good players. We just need to be a bit more greedy, a bit more ruthless.

"When we get thirties, forties and fifties, we have to make them into hundreds because that's when you'll get the big scores.

"Every individual has to look at their games and keep working. I have no doubt that once it clicks once, it will click for a long time."

Yorkshire are hoping Matthew Fisher and David Willey will be available for selection to face Warwickshire at Edgbaston on Friday following injury.

They are currently playing in a four-day second XI friendly against Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford.