12:50pm Tuesday 2nd February 2010
By Graham Hardcastle
Joe Sayers believes the appointment of Andrew Gale as Yorkshire’s new captain was a shrewd move by Martyn Moxon and Stewart Regan.
Gale, 26, was named as the county’s youngest-ever professional skipper prior to Christmas, replacing Anthony McGrath.
“I think it’s a smart appointment because he’s going to have a lot of belief and conviction in what he does,” said Sayers, a fellow 26-year-old batsman.
“He will send some strong messages to the players and the membership. He’s developed into a top-quality player in all forms of the game.
“He’s somebody who understands the club very well and the honour that goes with being the captain of this club.
“He has an open mind to new methods and I have every confidence that he will do a good job.”
Sayers, like Gale, will not make any rash promises about a challenge for the County Championship title or outlandish statements about how they are going to win this competition or that competition.
“There have been a number of departures but quite a few of the players who were emerging a couple of years ago have become relatively senior,” he said.
“It’s going to be hard work because a number of teams have made some key signings over the winter and Division One cricket is very competitive now.
“I don’t think there are any promises we can make, apart from the application to create something which is going to be useful in the long-term.
“It’s now all about investing in the people who you believe to be the future and we obviously want to work towards winning some silverware.”
Sayers was mentioned as being a contender for the captaincy himself when it was revealed that McGrath would step down but the fact that he does not regularly play one-day cricket probably counted against him.
Even so, Sayers will have an important job in 2010 and beyond because he is now one of those senior players that he referred to.
He said: “It’s a nice feeling to have such an influence on the team. It’s an exciting opportunity and I think we’ve got a great chance to shape a new culture within the team and the club.
“The disadvantages appear to be a degree of youth and inexperience but we’ve got some players who are maturing and developing. They’ve had some great representative experience over the last couple of months.
“It’s a great opportunity to start something that can be successful for a long period of time.”
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