Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale has warned his side’s future opponents to be wary of the wounded animal.

Gale has overseen a winless start to their Friends Life t20 campaign, with defeats to North Division powerhouses Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire in their first two matches – the Tykes having thrown away positions of strength in both matches.

Against Warwickshire at Headingley, they were 76-1 after six overs of their innings as they attempted to set a target, while they had reduced the hosts to 23-2 in the fourth over of their innings as Notts attempted to set a target at Trent Bridge.

It is a worrying trend that has blighted their season in all competitions.

There were the Championship matches against Notts and Hampshire at Headingley, while they had reduced the Netherlands to 112-7 in the early stages of that Clydesdale Bank 40 match at the same venue before going on to lose.

But, following three days of rest, recuperation and specific 20-over training, something which they have had little time to do with their hectic schedule, Gale believes the tide will turn.

“I feel like someone’s going to get a hammering sooner rather than later.

“We’re playing to 70 per cent of our potential at the moment. If everyone starts to execute their skills as we all know they can, even playing at 95 per cent, the opposition will get a hammering. But it’s the same old story. You’ll lose games playing at 70 per cent.”

Next up is a home clash with whipping-boys Worcestershire, who simply have to be beaten.

If Gale and company fail to beat a side that have only won ten out of 32 20-over matches over the two previous summers, it could completely shatter confidence.

Then it is the Roses match at Old Trafford on Friday night.

The 27-year-old continued: “The boys have got to pick themselves up pretty quickly. It’s difficult managing that balance between hard work and practice.

“After the schedule we’ve had over the last three weeks, there are some niggles.

“You obviously want the lads working hard on their skills and particularly fielding. I want the lads to work on their diving and all that sort of stuff.

“Somebody like Ryan Sidebottom has probably needed a bit of a rest over the last week or so – but the way the games have gone, it’s very difficult.”

Gale’s comments may be perceived as an admission he will look to employ squad rotation to preserve his top players. That, however, is not the case.

He added: “We’ll definitely be putting our strongest side out in the first four or five games. We’ll take it from there.”