Yorkshire work around 'bizarre' BCCI ban

By Graham Hardcastle

Yorkshire are determined not to be hindered by the BCCI’s blanket ban on counties travelling to India for pre-season training camps, and are sending seven of their players to Sri Lanka later this month instead.

The group were originally due to go to India prior to the full squad’s pre-season tour of Barbados in March before the BCCI took action in a bid to stop young English players such as Joe Root gaining experience of Indian conditions, a move sparked by England’s 2-1 Test series success before Christmas.

First team captain Andrew Gale and new signing Jack Brooks, the ex-Northamptonshire fast bowler, will instead join five White Rose teenagers in Colombo for an eight-day camp, starting on February 18.

The delegation will be led by Second XI coach Paul Farbrace, a former assistant coach of the Sri Lankan national team, and it is hoped his links will enable Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara to talk to the players and maybe train with them.

While batsman Gale is paying his own costs in a bid to get some practice against spin bowling, Brooks will go to complete the final stages of his recovery from an Achilles injury, which forced him out of action at times last summer. Both players have had their say on the BCCI’s stance regarding the ban on county camps.

Gale said: “Originally it was supposed to be India, but they won’t let any teams in now because of England’s success. I think it’s all a bit bizarre. It’s probably worked out for the best because the Sri Lanka trip looks a better option. Farby has got loads of links, and I think he’s hoping to get people like (Kumar) Sangakkara and (Mahela) Jayawardene to come and chat to us.”

And Brooks added: “I think it’s a bit petty more than anything. But, to be honest, the Sri Lanka trip looks better. So maybe it’s been a bit of a blessing for us.”

The other players to travel will be batsmen Alex Lees and Jack Leaning and Academy trio Eddie Wilson, Barney Gibson and Karl Carver.


Date: 06/02/2013 06:00:00 by Graham Hardcastle
In: Yorkshire | Today |