ANDREW Gale says former Yorkshire junior wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Inglis has what it takes to become an Australian international.

Leeds-born Inglis, 26, played under-11s representative cricket with Jordan Thompson before emigrating to Perth with his family shortly before his 15th birthday.

He returned to play briefly for Yorkshire’s second team alongside the likes of Ben Coad, Steve Patterson and Adil Rashid, but has since made a name for himself Down Under.

Inglis has shone for both Western Australia in state cricket and Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash.

And he returns to Emerald Headingley as Leicestershire’s overseas player in tomorrow night’s Vitality Blast clash (6.30pm).

Gale did not come across Inglis, a keeper and an inventive top order batsman in T20, during the latter’s time in the Yorkshire set-up.

But he has seen him first hand in the Big Bash, where Gale has recently worked as a member of the Hobart Hurricanes coaching team.

“He’s done really well,” said Gale. “I think he’s improved a lot, and quickly. I saw him out in the Big Bash in person and then on TV. He looks a proper player.

“They have very good competition for that keeper’s spot, with someone like a Josh Philippe around as well. He’s also very good.

“He (Inglis) will probably need another good Big Bash this coming winter to get right in the frame with the Aussies. But there’s no reason why not.”

Inglis, who has scored 24, 34 and seven in three Blast games for the Foxes so far - they have lost all three, is one of a number of former Yorkshire players plying their trade elsewhere.

“He is a bit different because of his family circumstances,” said Gale.

“But it’s particularly nice to see someone like James Logan go and get a gig somewhere else (Kent) after things just didn’t work out for him with us. Ed Barnes as well with Leicester.

“You can’t get them all in at Yorkshire.

“The hardest part of the job is almost taking their dream away because they want to have 20 years at Yorkshire winning Championships.

“When you take that away from them, you hope they get the chance to do it somewhere else.”

Yorkshire have won one and lost one to start this season’s Blast, beating Birmingham at Emerald Headingley on Thursday and losing to Durham at the Riverside on Friday.

Leicestershire have suffered defeats to Lancashire, Derbyshire and, most recently, Durham yesterday.

Durham were 85-7 chasing 169 and recovered their innings in similar fashion to how they did against Yorkshire on Friday night.

Leicester may be on the ropes early on, but Gale warned: “Anyone on the night is tough to beat. Durham looked a good side, Lancashire always do.

“Look at all the teams. We beat Birmingham comfortably on Thursday and on Friday then went and got 230 and beat Notts, the defending champions.

“It’s the nature of the game. It’s about having match-winners in your team, and I’m confident we have a fair few of them.

“I think this could be a tournament of two halves because of the availability of the England players.

“It would be nice to get some points on the board before they leave, more to take pressure off the lads coming in.

“Durham wasn’t ideal in that respect, but we still have enough players to win T20 games when they leave.”

The England players will leave the White Rose at the end of this week ahead of a T20 series against Sri Lanka. Captain David Willey has been picked alongside Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan and Rashid.

One player who could come back into the reckoning when they go is Gary Ballance, who scored a blistering Roses century in the second team at Liverpool last week - 125 off 56 balls with 11 fours and nine sixes.

“Gary is gutted he is not playing. But he missed the full comp last season and Will Fraine did really well,” added Gale. “As we know, this competition is a roller coaster and things change quickly.

“I’m sure Gary will play his part at some stage.”

SQUAD NEWS:

Dom Bess returns to the squad having been unavailable last week after joining up with the England Test squad.

Matthew Fisher played a full part in the second team games last week and returns following an abdominal injury.

13-MAN SQUAD TO TAKE ON LEICESTERSHIRE FOXES:

Jonny Bairstow (Wicketkeeper)
Dominic Bess
Harry Brook
Lockie Ferguson
Will Fraine
Matthew Fisher
Tom Kohler-Cadmore
Adam Lyth
Dawid Malan
Adil Rashid
Jordan Thompson
Matthew Waite
David Willey (Captain)