Yorkshire adapting to problems ahead of Leicestershire clash

The Vikings are aiming for a sixth win in eight games at Grace Road, with the game getting underway at 6:30pm.

All-rounder Thompson and sixth-wicket partner Harry Brook were the heroes of Wednesday night’s come from behind win over Worcestershire at Emerald Headingley, when Yorkshire were 15-4 and posted 191-5.

They shared a Blast record sixth-wicket partnership of 141 in 56 balls, with Brook making 83 not out and Thompson 66 not out.

As well as performances, Thompson says Yorkshire’s confidence comes from a clarity in individuals roles within their side, something which has been absent in years gone by.

In many ways, despite still being disrupted by player availability, the Vikings have found a significant sense of calm amid the madness of England call-ups and injuries.

A shining example came against Worcester when opener Tom Kohler-Cadmore was ruled out with a broken finger and was replaced at the top of the order by busy Jonny Tattersall.

Down the order, the Vikings possess players with more power than Tattersall who could have been elevated. Instead, they opted to leave them in roles where they have enjoyed recent success and give Tattersall the chance to impress.

“We’ve now lost four batsmen,” said Thompson, who has helped Yorkshire close in on a first quarter-final berth since 2016 - they must finish in the top four places after 14 games.

“We’ve lost Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan, which was expected.

“But now we’ve lost Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Will Fraine to injury in a couple of days. Joe Root’s there, which is great.

“To have a big shake up in the batting order is never nice in any form of cricket. But we’re looking around and know who is going to replace each other.

“Everyone who comes in knows exactly what they’re doing and they fit in perfectly.

“To come out and get 190 when we were 15-4, it shows we can bat all the way down.

“The last few years have been building up to where we were able to have a strong, set team. Every single person in that changing room knows what is expected of them.”

Thompson heads to Leicester on the back of what he describes as “the best innings I’ve ever played”.

Realistically, the Worcester win was also one of Yorkshire’s best ever in T20 cricket.

“We certainly go there (Leicester) as a confident bunch,” said the 24-year-old.

“But they’ve hit a run of form in the last couple of games, and we can’t take them lightly. They nearly chased down our 240 last week.

“It will be a tight game, as T20 cricket always is.”

Having lost their first five games in the North Group, the Foxes have won their last two - away against Northamptonshire and Derbyshire.

Former Yorkshire junior Josh Inglis, their now Australian overseas player and an ex-team-mate of Thompson’s, scored an unbeaten century in Sunday win over Northants when they posted 200-2 and defended it.

Their other overseas player, the Afghanistan fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq, is among the competition’s leading wicket-takers with 13.

Last September, Yorkshire lost off the last ball at Grace Road as they failed to defend 189.

Thompson smashed 44 off 19 balls at the end of the Vikings 188-6 before, in his own words, “giving it them back with my bowling.”

That is one area which Thompson is aiming to improve.

He may be Yorkshire’s joint leading wicket-taker with 10 in this season’s Blast alongside New Zealand overseas quick Lockie Ferguson, but his economy rate is 10.25 runs per over.

He added: “I’m not bowling as well as I’d like.

“My economy rate’s a bit too high, and it’s just about me getting into and out of overs, getting my lengths right and being clear on what I want to do.”

Tom Kohler-Cadmore misses the game tonight with a broken finger, while Will Fraine is also sidelined with a side strain.

13-MAN SQUAD TO TAKE ON LEICESTERSHIRE FOXES

Gary Ballance

Dominic Bess

Harry Brook

Lockie Ferguson

Matthew Fisher

George Hill

Dominic Leech

Adam Lyth

Josh Poysden

Joe Root (captain)

Jonny Tattersall

Jordan Thompson

Matthew Waite