Geoffrey Boycott believes Andrew Gale could be England’s next captain.

The former Test opener has been one of Gale’s mentors since the 26-year-old took over leadership duties from Anthony McGrath in the winter.

The left hander has guided Yorkshire to the top of the LV= County Championship division one table, scoring his fair share of runs as well as taking to captaincy like a duck to water.

And, when asked whether Gale, pictured right, was ready to play international cricket, Boycott said: “Only time will tell. But, if he gets himself established, he could be a dark horse to replace Andrew Strauss down the line.”

Boycott, who is a director on the board at Yorkshire, was part of the panel who selected Gale as the club’s youngest-ever professional captain.

It would be fair to say that the decision was something of a risk.

But Boycott disagreed: “I didn’t think it was a risk because we looked at it very closely, and we’ve been proved right.

“We considered a number of people, including Jacques Rudolph. Gale has since captained the Lions, so England have obviously seen something in him as well. He’s a leader, and he’s done very well.”

Gale has also spoken in depth to Michael Vaughan about captaincy and went out to visit Boycott in South Africa over the winter to do the same thing.

“I told him to be yourself, just be your own man,” said Boycott.

Gale said: “I spoke to Geoff about where the club is going. He gave me a lot of advice about which direction Yorkshire should be going in, and so far that has worked.

“We have decided to back our young players, and that means we will make mistakes. But it is going well so far. We will not fail through lack of trying.

“He gave me a lot of advice and confidence, and I know that Geoff is there at any stage of the season if I need him.

“I know I am a young captain who will make mistakes at times, but knowing that Geoff is there is a big help because I know how much experience he has of captaining not only Yorkshire but also his country.”

Boycott, straight talking as ever, believes there is no pressure on Yorkshire to win the Championship, despite putting themselves in a fantastic position.

“There’s no pressure,” he added. “They’ve just got to go out and enjoy it.

“They’re out there playing cricket in the fresh air with the sun on their backs all day while other people are getting a bus at 7am to go and work in an office.

“They’d swap in a flash. Tell me which job you’d rather have.”

Boycott also believes it would be foolish to rush Adil Rashid back into the England fold if he continues his form in both four-day and one-day cricket from now until the end of the season.

“There’s no point rushing him because he’s got the possibility of another 15 years left in his career, that’s a long time,” he said.

“Just let him play. It’s better for him to be playing day in, day out rather than sat on his backside. He’s doing okay with us at the moment.”

• Boycott’s new book, Play Cricket The Right Way, is published by Great Northern books, priced at £9.99.

It is filled with animated strips and pictures, helping youngsters to learn the game.

Having been first published in 1976 after Boycott was inspired by a similar project from South African golfer Gary Player, the new release includes innovations such as Murali’s doosra and Kevin Pietersen’s switch hit.