Ottis Gibson says Yorkshire are targeting the best of both worlds as they embark on the forthcoming Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign, which starts next week.
The Vikings head into county cricket’s third competition of the summer bidding to win the county’s first piece of limited overs silverware since the 2002 Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy.
They won have four games in each of the last two 50-over campaigns, qualifying for the knockout stages in 2021 and just missing out last season.
But they are also aiming to develop a number of the county’s fledgling stars.
Gibson is back in charge after relinquishing the assistant coach’s role he held with the Northern Superchargers men in last year’s Hundred.
Yorkshire face back-to-back clashes at North Marine Road in Scarborough on Tuesday and Thursday, starting with defending champions Kent Spitfires and then last year’s beaten finalists Lancashire in the eagerly anticipated Roses fixture.
Before then, they face Cheshire in a National Counties warm-up game at Nantwich tomorrow (11am).
“We’ll use it as a developmental competition,” said Gibson. “It’s a good opportunity for us to really have a look at and expose our young talent.
“The likes of Luxton and Wharton and these guys, you would expect to see playing, with a view of trying of course to go one better than we did last year.”
Shan Masood is available to lead the side through the competition, but he will miss out at Cheshire as he only arrives back in the country tomorrow following Pakistan Test duty in Sri Lanka.
But the young up and comers will get a chance given Yorkshire are missing nine players because of the Hundred.
Harry Brook, Adam Lyth and Adil Rashid are with the Northern Superchargers, while Jafer Chohan and Matthew Fisher are with Southern Brave.
Dawid Malan and Joe Root are with the Trent Rockets. Jonny Bairstow is with the Welsh Fire and Jordan Thompson with London Spirit.
There looks set to be a decent amount of movement between both competitions, including squad players returning to counties to get some valuable game time. Each of the 18 counties has at least two players involved in the Hundred.
“It’s also an opportunity for guys to perform,” continued Gibson, of the One-Day Cup.
“The Hundred is going on at the same time, and someone who gets a couple of scores early on may get a call-up if there’s an injury.
“There are all sorts of different scenarios at play. I’m encouraging players to see the opportunity in this situation.
“If you get off to a flyer with the ball or the bat and somebody sees you, you may even get called up into one of these winter franchise tournaments. The likes of Benny Mike, the likes of Dom Leech can use this as a shop window to get into other tournaments.”
While Masood is back, fellow overseas players Ryan Rickelton and Mark Steketee were only signed to play LV= Insurance County Championship cricket. Loanee spinner Dan Moriarty has returned to Surrey, who are without 12 players because of the Hundred.
Dom Bess is available to the Vikings after spending parts of the last month on loan with Warwickshire and Somerset in the Championship: “For sure,” said Gibson. “He had a good Blast and did well in the One-Day Cup last year as well.”
On the Cheshire game, the former West Indies fast bowler added: “It’s a friendly game, and we look forward to that.
“I don’t know if we can play 12 or not, but we will definitely pick our best team and try and get a style of play going as quickly as possible to get on a roll in the tournament.”
Cheshire are captained and coached by former Leicestershire opener Harry Dearden, while Ben Kohler-Cadmore – Tom’s brother – will also play for them. A powerful batter who played in the Bradford League at Hanging Heaton, Ben has moved to play in the Cheshire League for Alderley Edge.
Former Yorkshire spinner David Wainwright plays red ball cricket for them.
