Anthony McGrath says Yorkshire are targeting improved starts to both innings in T20 cricket as they aim to better their return in that format of the game.
Yorkshire are still chasing their first Vitality Blast trophy – a competition which has been running since 2003.
They missed out on quarter-final qualification last season and have only reached that stage three times in the last 10 years, including two Finals Day appearances in that time.
That is a record the county are determined to rectify, and it starts with tackling a six-team pre-season T20 tournament in Abu Dhabi this weekend.
The Abu Dhabi Counties Super Cup starts tomorrow and runs through until Sunday at the Sheikh Zayed International Stadium complex. Essex, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Warwickshire and the South Asian Cricket Academy are also involved.
Each team will play a game per day, with the final on Sunday afternoon UK.
Picture by YCCC. Anthony McGrath has identified areas for improvement as Yorkshire target Blast success this summer.
Yorkshire face Essex in their opener tomorrow at 2.30pm UK and then tackle Warwickshire on Saturday at 6.30am UK. All matches will be streamed live online.
Given this is a pre-season tournament, winning it is not the be all and end all for former all-rounder McGrath and his coaching staff. But they want to see positives ahead of the start of their Blast North Group campaign at the end of May.
“We’ve done a lot of a data analysis on it and where we think we can improve,” said the new head coach.
“I think it’s about the players being comfortable with their roles in the team.
“We’ve looked at everything, opening partnerships with bat and ball, who’s going to bowl through the middle and at the death – all of that.
“With what we have in the squad, experience and youth, we have a lot of options.
Picture by YCCC. Opening batter Adam Lyth trains at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
“We will be looking at different players in a number of roles in this tournament, so that by the time we get to late May, we will have a clear idea of who we think are the best fits.”
Without revealing all of their secrets, McGrath was asked to expand on where the analysis suggests Yorkshire need to improve in 20-over cricket.
“The simple answer to that is everywhere, because we didn’t qualify,” he added.
“But if you look at the powerplay with both bat and ball, I think we’re ranked down towards the bottom across both groups. If we can improve the powerplay in both departments, that will be key for us.
“That will be a reasonable aim for us.
“If we can get off to better starts in both innings, it’s going to make things easier through the middle and at the death.”
Picture by YCCC. Batting all-rounder Jawad Akhtar, fresh from signing his maiden professional contract earlier this winter, trains in Abu Dhabi. Second-team coach Tom Smith is in the background.
Cover photo, by YCCC: Spinners Dan Moriarty and Jafer Chohan, who can have a big impact on this season’s Vitality Blast.
