YORKSHIRE captain Andrew Gale has warned his side’s future opponents to be wary of the wounded animal.
Gale has overseen a winless start to their Friends Life T20 campaign, with defeats to North Division powerhouses Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire in their first two matches.
The Tykes have thrown away positions of strength in both matches against last season’s top two teams in their section.
Against Warwickshire at Headingley on Friday, they were 76-1 after six overs as they attempted to set a target, while they had reduced the hosts to 23-2 in the fourth over of their innings as Notts attempted to set a tally at Trent Bridge on Sunday.
It is a worrying trend that has blighted their season in all competitions.
There were the Championship matches against Notts and Hampshire at Headingley, while they had reduced the Netherlands to 112-7 in the early stages of that Clydesdale Bank 40 match at the same venue before going on to lose.
But, following three days of rest, recuperation and specific 20-over training, something which they have had little time to do with their hectic schedule over the last month, Gale believes the tide will turn.
So much so, in fact, that he has predicted: “I feel like someone’s going to get a hammering sooner rather than later.
“We’re playing to 70 per cent of our potential at the moment.
“If everyone starts to execute their skills as we all know they can, even playing at 95 per cent capacity, the opposition will get a hammering.
“But it’s the same old story of our season. You’ll lose games playing at 70 per cent.’’ Next up is a home meeting with whipping boys Worcestershire, who have to be beaten for more reasons than just the two points.
If Gale and company fail to beat a side that have only won ten out of 32 20-over matches over the two previous summers, it could completely shatter confidence. Then it is the Roses match at Old Trafford on Friday night.
The 27 year-old continued: “The boys have got to pick themselves up pretty quickly.
It’s difficult managing that balance between hard work and practice.
“After the schedule we’ve had over the last three weeks, there are some niggles around.
“You obviously want the lads working hard on their skills and particularly their fielding. I want the lads to work on their diving and all that sort of stuff.
“Somebody like Ryan Sidebottom has probably needed a bit of a rest over the last week or so – but the way the games have gone, it’s very difficult.
“We’ve got to find a balance for training and resting to keep the lads fresh.”
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