Captain Andrew Gale says he would have no qualms about dropping himself from Yorkshire’s LV= County Championship team if necessary.

Gale has endured a frustrating season and a half in first-class cricket since midway through 2011, with injury and loss of form contributing factors.

The left-hander has not scored a century since an unbeaten 101 against Durham in June 2011.

In 34 first-class innings since, the former England Lions skipper has only passed 50 on four occasions. His last came against Glamorgan at Headingley last September.

In nine first-class innings this summer, he has scored 140 runs at an average of 17.5. His only half-century was a 67-ball 65 against Glamorgan in the opening Yorkshire Bank 40 match earlier this month.

He did at least score an encouraging 40 against Warwickshire at Edgbaston last week, falling to a superb one-handed slip catch by Rikki Clarke off Jeetan Patel’s off-spin.

“I’m not going to lie to you, it has been a worry,” said 29-year-old Gale of his form.

“We’re five games in now and I still haven’t got a fifty. I keep finding ways of getting out. I feel in good form in the one-day stuff but it’s just about converting that into the Championship.

“I was disappointed to get out like I did at Warwickshire after such a good start.”

The subject of Gale dropping himself has not been discussed – and it would need someone like an Alex Lees to rack up the runs in the seconds to put the pressure on.

Gale said: “No, it hasn’t been yet. But I’m not going to be a captain who just stays in the team for my captaincy. I want to be contributing.

“I’ve always prided myself on leading from the front and if that means leaving myself out, I won’t think twice about doing that if it helps Yorkshire to win matches.”