By Graham Hardcastle
Yorkshire head into this weekend’s inaugural six-team Abu Dhabi T20 competition a rejuvenated force, according to batsman Gary Ballance.
The Vikings arrived in the Gulf yesterday evening (MONDAY) alongside Auckland Aces, Boost Defenders, Hobart Hurricanes, Lahore Qalandars and the Titans.
They have been placed in the same group as Hobart and Lahore, with group matches on Thursday and Saturday.
The winners of the two groups face off in Saturday evening’s final at the Sheikh Zayed International Stadium, a venue Yorkshire know well from recent visits for champion county fixtures.
Yorkshire are the only team coming to the end of their season, but Ballance is part of a strong squad minus their England internationals.
Both county and player head into the event in good form.
Yorkshire finished the Championship campaign with two draws and two wins, including last week’s seven-wicket success over Worcestershire at New Road to seal fourth place in Division One. Prior to those quartet of games, they were second bottom and in relegation danger.
