Bairstow named new Yorkshire red-ball captain

On their return to Division One of the County Championship, Jonny Bairstow will take the reins.

After splitting up with Jonny Tattersall and Shan Masood in Pakistan last summer, he now assumes the position.

The 35-year-old Bairstow, who made his Yorkshire debut in 2009, will also be the first-choice wicketkeeper.

Bairstow told BBC Sport, “It’s a huge honor to lead Yorkshire.”

You have a dream about it as a young boy. Whether it’s your career’s first few years or your career’s final few years, you want to do it.

It’s a proud moment for me, for the family, and I hope the guys will find it exciting this year to be asked to do that with the group of boys we have.

On April 4, Yorkshire will face Hampshire in their first Division One game since 2022 under the direction of Bairstow, a veteran of 100 Tests.

Bairstow can concentrate entirely on the county game for the first time since 2018 and is not competing in the Indian Premier League.

Since March 2024, he hasn’t played a Test match, and that was his most recent T20 international.

The Bradford-born cricketer won the White Rose Championship in 2014 and 2015, recording 12 Test centuries and winning the 20-over and 50-over games.

As the team attempts to regain its position in the top flight following its promotion last summer, he now has the responsibility of leading from the front.

In his long career, Bairstow has played for Welsh Fire in The Hundred and is confident that he has gained enough experience from playing for a variety of skippers.

He is also taking the lead in Yorkshire, in the footsteps of his late father, David, on a personal note.

He and Jonny were proud to “match that achievement” when they led their county between 1984 and 1986.

He said, “That was a long time ago, before I was born. I’m very proud to do that in order to replicate that.

When the T20 Blast campaign kicks off in late May, Malan will take over as Bairstow’s Championship team’s captain.

The 37-year-old, who came to England from Middlesex in 2019, signed a white-ball only deal with the Headingley club last year and will bring all of his experience, which included 92 white-ball appearances for England, before leaving for international cricket last summer.

Yorkshire’s poor T20 cricket record, which has only allowed them to reach Finals Day three times, will be improved by the left-hander.

And for Anthony McGrath, having two such successful international players as the club’s new head coach, that is only going to be good.

Both Jonny and Dawid join our senior players in bringing unmatched international experience to the team, he said.

They both possess excellent leadership qualities, according to the statement.