Yorkshire Scene

This week marks Jason Gillespie’s fifth involvement in a Roses Championship match – but his first as a coach.

The Australian took charge of Yorkshire ahead of the 2012 county campaign when Lancashire were reigning champions and the White Rose team had been relegated to Division Two.

The two sides swapped places for 2013, with Yorkshire promoted and Lancashire relegated.

Lancashire’s promotion last season as Division Two champions means this week’s ongoing Roses clash is the first since 2011.

Gillespie spent two seasons as an overseas player at Yorkshire in 2006 and 2007, playing in four Championship matches against the old enemy.

Should Yorkshire beat Lancashire this week, it will be his first taste of victory after three draws and a defeat.

“I played in a couple of games and they were great contests,” recalled ‘Dizzy’.

“Although I do remember getting belted around a bit, with Stuart Law getting a double hundred.

“There is a great feel about them. The supporters come out in full force and the players obviously know what it’s like to play in the local derby.

“It’s great for the game; great for county cricket. Hopefully we can put on a really good show.

“You know the history between Yorkshire and Lancashire. I’ve been lucky enough to experience that as a player and now I’m going to get that experience as a coach. It’s exciting, there’s no doubt about that.”

Yorkshire have played two, won two at Headingley so far this season, having only triumphed twice at their headquarters in the whole of last season.

The docile nature of the pitches have been a bone of contention in recent seasons but they have beaten Northamptonshire and Warwickshire, both by an innings, during the last six weeks.

“We have been very good at Headingley and our aim was to make Headingley a fortress in 2014,” said captain Andrew Gale.

“Over the years this hasn’t been the case for differing reasons. I think now we have found a formula for winning games at Headingley.

“It’s not just down to performances. We pride ourselves on the attention to detail, from discussing the type of pitches we want with the groundsman to the preparation we work on as a squad.”