Rich Pyrah is promising two things through Yorkshire’s Royal London Cup campaign, which rolls back into Scarborough on Wednesday – continuity in selection and feverish energy.
Pyrah insists the former will help fast-track the development of the county’s young players and the latter is something which heightens the chances of success.
The ex all-rounder is leading the Vikings as interim head coach through the RL50 with Andrew Gale on duty in the Hundred.
He oversaw a special victory against Leicestershire at Grace Road on Sunday when a Harry Duke century underpinned a chase of 328.
And tomorrow, at North Marine Road, they will aim to beat another Midlands county in Northamptonshire (11am) to go two wins from three games in Group B.
Yorkshire, who will be captained by Gary Ballance with Dom Bess on Test duty, are one of a host of counties fielding a number of young players to compensate for first-team regulars who are away playing in the Hundred.
With that will come inconsistency, which has been highlighted in the first two games.
Bowled out for 165 during the opening day defeat to Surrey at Scarborough last Thursday, the same batting line up cruised the chase of 328 against Leicester on Sunday to win by seven wickets.
“The majority are going to play in the same positions all the way through no matter how they do,” said Pyrah. “That’s how young players learn.
“As long as they keep learning, who knows where we’ll get to.
“There’s been a lot spoken about young players in this comp, but wins like that at Leicester prove how valuable it is – the experience and confidence they get is massive.
“We’ve invested in some young lads and given them opportunities.
“It would be quite easy to go with more senior players than a Harry Duke, for example, up the top of the order. But I wanted to give young lads opportunities where I thought they’d bat well.
“To see them perform like that and win a game is so pleasing.”
The dynamic running between the wickets, never missing an opportunity to score, was a standout feature of Yorkshire’s chase, led by Duke, on Sunday.
“It’s something I’ve asked them to do,” said Pyrah.
“We will be inconsistent on some days with a young team, but the least I ask for is energy in the field and to run them ragged whilst batting.
“We’re a young and athletic team. You can see the difference running hard makes. It keeps the board ticking and puts them under pressure.
“Dukey gets a bit giddy with his running at times, but I love it. It’s the energy I want these young lads to play with.
“It’s what I call aggressive energy.
“In the field, it’s throwing yourselves about and throwing the ball hard to the keeper.
“With the running, I don’t want to see us sauntering singles. I want them sprinted.
“It was an unbelievable innings from Dukey.
“A good thing about his game is that he’s got boundaries options, but he also rotates strike.
“To get a hundred at that age is special, but to do it in a winning chase of over 300 is even more so.”
