Tom Kohler-Cadmore believes intensity in the field will be key to success in this summer’s Vitality Blast, which starts with games behind closed doors later this week.
Yorkshire’s 10-game North Group campaign begins with a televised meeting against last season’s beaten semi-finalists Nottinghamshire at Emerald Headingley on Thursday (6.35pm).
The Vikings will be searching for their maiden Blast title and only their third Finals Day appearance.
All cricket played so far this season has been done so in front of the backdrop of empty stands, with members and supporters only able to watch on live streams – not for televised Sky games, though.
Kohler-Cadmore admits it has been strange to play the opening four rounds of the four-day Bob Willis Trophy without crowds, feelings which will only be heightened in the Blast.
“Four-day cricket has been slightly strange, missing that murmur and hum around the ground,” said the opening batsman and stand-in captain for absent England all-rounder David Willey.
“The T20 crowds are much more vocal, and it will be very different. But the whole year’s been different. So you just have to buy into it.
“We have to make sure we create our own energy and atmosphere when we’re in the field. Whichever teams do that best will be the successful ones.
“You will hear more noise anyway because of crowds not being there, but energy in the field doesn’t come from noise. It comes from body language and intensity.
“When you’re throwing the ball into the keeper, make sure it hits the gloves hard, or making an outstanding diving stop.
“That, for me, is more important than someone shouting louder.
“If I’m batting against a team and they’re surrounding me, building pressure with good fielding, that’s when it gets harder – more so than hearing someone clapping and shouting once you’ve hit a four.
“We have to make sure our skills are at their sharpest now more than ever.”
Kohler-Cadmore, 26, is ushering in somewhat of a new era for Yorkshire’s T20 side.
Willey was appointed the new Vikings captain in February, only to earn an England white ball recall and be unavailable for as many as the opening eight games of the North Group.
“It’s brilliant for Dave that he’s back in the England fold, and he’s left me in charge,” said Kohler-Cadmore, who led the side for the majority of last season’s Blast as a deputy for Steve Patterson.
“Him and Andrew Gale have done a brilliant through the winter, developing a brand of cricket that we’re looking to play.
“For me, it’s just about helping to push it in the direction that Dave wants it, and I’m 100 percent with that.
“It’s massively exciting to be leading a bit of a new era with, obviously, Dave’s help. I’m sure he’ll be keeping his eye out and hopefully speaking to me regularly about different things.
“It’s a great opportunity for some of our youngsters to put their hands up and show what they can do.
“This year we’ve seen quite a lot of debutants already – Dom Leech has shown how good he is, Jordan Thompson has stood up, George Hill as well.
“There are a lot of opportunities coming, and it’s great for us to see how much depth and quality we have at the club.”
Along with an added intensity in the field, the Yorkshire hierarchy have also put a significant emphasis on role awareness for players – perhaps more so than ever before as they bid to get beyond years of underachievement in this format.
