Andrew Gale: Frantic, maybe, but it's a brand of cricket we will alway try to play

Joe Root. PIC: Scott MerryleesJoe Root. PIC: Scott Merrylees
Joe Root. PIC: Scott Merrylees
IT was a frantic finish at the end in our County Championship game against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge this week and that is the brand of cricket that we want to play and always will.

It was a great advert for the four-day game, although my heart was in my mouth going into the last over, especially when Patto got out in the last few balls, thinking I had made a mistake in trying to push for the win!

But you have got to be prepared to lose to win games and if we had come out on top, it would have been a great effort, although we probbaly just ran out of time a little bit.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

We knew as soon as Pudsey (Liam Plunkett) came out and I came in that we wanted to shut up shop.

But it didn’t help that me and Dave (Willey) got out in successive overs as then we were under pressure again.

It nearly backfired on us. But we have had some really good feedback since and it was a good advertisement for the game.

Looking at it, it was a good solid draw, but an opportunity missed really and that was the way we saw it.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Two bad sessions probably cost us a win, really – on the first morning of the first day and on the morning of the fourth day, particularly after getting a wicket in the first over.

When we did that, we were thinking we could bowl them out.

But we just lacked consistency and fair play to (Chris) Read and (Stuart) Broad, they played well and counter-punched us.

It is two games now where we have missed our opportunities.

We had Hampshire 120-6 on that second day and then there was this game as well. It was set up nicely for us in both games to win and little sloppy sessions are letting us down.

It is something we have spoken about and we know if we are going to get back on track, then we need to win those sessions and be ruthless.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Fair play to Alex Lees; he had a fantastic game and he had been hitting the ball well early season without getting a big score – as have all the batters really.

But it just clicked into place for Alex and he hit the ball well and I am pleased he made a big score.

Hopefully, he can kick on now and have a fantastic season as he’s an exceptional talent.

Next up is Surrey and we start a four-dayer at Headingley tomorrow.

Hide Ad