Gale Succeeds Gillespie As Yorkshire Coach
Zeeshan Mehtab Published November 14, 2016 | 10:45 PM
LONDON, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Nov, 2016 ) : Former Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale has ended his playing career to become the English county's new coach in succession to Jason Gillespie, it was announced Monday.
Gale will take over at the relatively young age of 32 after Gillespie stepped down at the end of this season following a last-round loss to eventual title-winners Middlesex at Lord's that scuppered Yorkshire's hopes of winning a third successive County Championship title under the former Australia fast bowler.
It had been Gale's intention, after speaking to Yorkshire director of cricket Martyn Moxon, to carry on as a batsman despite a poor 2016 season where he averaged a meagre 21. But he now finds himself ending a 12-year first-class career, seven of which were spent as Yorkshire captain.
"This was a tough decision to make," Gale said. "I said to Martyn at the end of last season that I would continue to play. "When I was asked about it (the coaching role), it put things in perspective.
When I drove into the ground a few weeks ago, I probably didn't have the excitement to continue playing but now I'm really excited about the opportunity." Gale saw off 15 other candidates for a Yorkshire post that became vacant when Gillespie made it clear he would be returning to Australia for family reasons, despite having no experience as a professional coach.
But Gale said his knowledge of the players he had known since stepping into the Headingley dressing room in 2004 would compensate for his lack of coaching credentials.
"I feel I've got an advantage because I know the players well and I've got the respect of the players," explained Gale.
"The challenge is to bring the next generation through in the next three-plus years when the senior players start to retire and move on." Gale, who played alongside several current England internationals, including Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow and Adil Rashid, at Yorkshire said he had considered becoming a captain-coach before deciding against any type of dual role.
"I thought about doing both, but I don't think I'd have done the job justice if I'd done both. I thought the right decision was to do one or the other." Former Yorkshire and England batsman Moxon, who made a similarly quick move into coaching the following the end of his playing days, was in no doubt Gale was the right man to replace Gillespie.
"For me it was about making sure we have continuity. When we received all the applications, it became pretty clear to me that the best man for the job was actually within our group already," Moxon said.
"Initially Galey was not sure about ending his playing career at this time, however after thinking about it for a few days, I'm delighted that he accepted the position." Gale scored more than 8,000 first-class runs, including 20 hundreds, and was the youngest captain in Yorkshire's history when appointed in 2009.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Dar for joint action to counter Islamophobia in context of Israeli aggression ag ..
Azam Tarar urges for effective implementation of Action Plan for Human Rights
PAF cadets' graduation ceremony held
One-day national seminar "Great Power Competition: Challenges and Opportunities ..
10 firms submit LoIs for PIA: Aleem Khan
Saudi Arabia launches Nusuk pilgrim card for the Hajj of 2024
High Commissioner Hawkins hosts reception to mark 'Australia Day in Spring'
PM forms inquiry committee to probe matter of wheat import
E-Evidence system inaugurated in Bahawalnagar district courts
Bitterness at UCLA as Gaza protest cleared
Kenya, Tanzania brace for cyclone as heavy rains persist
DC reviews seven-day anti-polio drive in Federal Capital
More Stories From Sports
-
Tennis Trophy 2024 from May 3
9 hours ago -
Four matches decided in National Challenge Cup
9 hours ago -
Committee holds former PCB director responsible for Ihsanullah’s aggravated injury
9 hours ago -
Pakistan hockey team reach Malaysia for Azlan Shah Tournament
9 hours ago -
Hasan Ali recalled, Salman Agha, Haris Rauf back for Ireland, England T20Is
10 hours ago -
Pakistan name 18-player squad for Ireland and England & Wales
11 hours ago
-
Qaqlasht festival starts in Upper Chitral
10 hours ago -
'Cool' to race against legends says ripening Piastri
11 hours ago -
Alcaraz crashes, Sinner hobbles out of Madrid
11 hours ago -
PCB proposes India in Lahore for 2025 champions trophy
11 hours ago -
Punjab, KP move in National Table Tennis League finals
13 hours ago -
FIH Hockey Nations Cup from May 31
14 hours ago