STEVE Patterson has described Yorkshire’s ability to cope with the loss of their six internationals for Thursday’s Royal London one-day Cup eliminator win over Essex as a “huge ask”.

And the stand-in captain knows they will have to do it all over again in Monday’s semi-final at Hampshire (11am).

Ahead of the trip to the Ageas Bowl, Patterson was asked about Yorkshire’s character in adversity and about their hopes of ending the county’s 16-year wait for limited overs silverware.

He admits it is a frustration the White Rose have failed to reach Lord’s since beating Somerset in the 2002 Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy – he was on the club’s Academy back then and watched from the stands.

But he has also pointed to the regular loss of international players as a contributing factor.

“It is frustrating,” said the seamer.

“I think we’ve been a better team down the years than our results and achievements have shown in one-day cricket. But every year, for as long as I can remember, we have reached the quarter-finals and semis. We are doing a lot of things right.

“But it’s very difficult. You ask any team in any sport around the world what they’d think about losing six internationals a few days before a quarter-final. It’s a huge ask.

“But it’s testament to the lads and their attitude to go and beat a strong Essex side.

“We are the strongest county on paper, but when you lose half your team to England, it’s a hell of an ask.

“Look at the England team. Half of them are Yorkshire lads. And then we’ve got Pujara over playing in India.

“Essex lost Ryan ten Doeschate, their captain. It was a huge loss. But try doing that five or six times over.

“When you listen to people’s expectations of ‘Why haven’t we won a comp?’, you have to take stuff like that into account.

“Yes, we might not have won anything for a few years in white ball cricket, but we’ve provided half the England team and they’re number one in the world.”

Patterson admits the loss of Jonny Bairstow, who in fairness hasn’t played in the RL50 this summer, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, David Willey and India overseas batsman Che Pujara – who may all be available for the June 30 final – left the dressing room feeling a bit down ahead of Essex. But not for long. And there certainly won’t be any of that on Monday.

“There was a little bit of that because you always want your best players available,” he said. “But we can’t control it, so we have to crack on. The attitude the lads have shown has been absolutely top drawer.

“We go to Hampshire full of confidence with nothing to lose knowing we can beat them. And if we play the cricket we’re capable of, we will.

“They’re going to be tough to beat. But they’ve just come off the back of a big defeat in Championship cricket (by an innings against Surrey last week). I know it’s a different form, but it can sometimes get you a bit down, whereas we’re on the back of five wins. It’s going to give you confidence.”

Hampshire, who have South African fast bowler Dale Steyn available as their overseas, finished top of the South with five wins from eight.