Solid foundation on which Tykes can now build (From Gazette & Herald)

Solid foundation on which Tykes can now build

10:42am Tuesday 18th September 2012 in Sport By Graham Hardcastle

Yorkshire believe they have built a platform to challenge for silverware in the coming seasons on the back of an impressive summer of 2012.

And their main aim is to compete with new county champions Warwickshire next year in a bid to win their first LV= County Championship title since 2001.

An instant return to division one was secured with a third win on the trot against Essex at Chelmsford last week.

While failing to gain promotion would have been a pretty big shock, the Tykes ensured their season can be viewed as one to remember with some excellent performances in the Friends Life t20 competition.

They reached last month’s Finals Day for the first time in ten years, only beaten in the final by one-day double-winners Hampshire.

As a result, Yorkshire head to South Africa in a fortnight to compete in the Champions League t20 event.

“We certainly won’t be making up the numbers next year,” said first-team coach Jason Gillespie, who will look back fondly on his first season in charge.

“I believe we’ve got a real chance of performing strongly and challenging for a trophy, that’s for sure. That’s certainly the frame of mind we’ll be going into 2013 with. We’ll be going out there to challenge for top spot.

“We’ve got the players, and the players have got the attitude to play good positive cricket.

“As a coaching staff we just want them to put in all the effort they can and have a positive attitude. Wherever we end up we end up, but I’m confident this group can go a long way.”

To challenge for silverware, Yorkshire will need to strengthen.

The signing of Sussex wicketkeeper Andrew Hodd as back-up to Jonny Bairstow is a shrewd one, while adding to their fast bowling is the prime priority.

Glamorgan’s James Harris, 22-years-old, is in talks with the club, while Northamptonshire’s Jack Brooks is another option.

Said club chairman Colin Graves: “I think we can challenge for the Championship.

“If you look back two years with virtually the same team, apart from Rudolph/Jaques, we ended second. So why can’t we do the same next year?”

Meanwhile, Joe Root has won the Cricket Writers’ Club Young Player of the Year award for 2012 after scoring 746 runs from 15 first-class matches. He will hope to be named in England’s Test squad today for November’s tour of India.