Jonny Bairstow Appointed Yorkshire Red-Ball Captain: A New Era Begins in County Cricket

Bairstow's Landmark Appointment as Yorkshire Captain

England veteran Jonny Bairstow has been named Yorkshire's new red-ball captain as the club prepares for its return to Division One of the County Championship. The 35-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman succeeds Pakistan's Shan Masood and Jonny Tattersall, who shared leadership duties during the 2024 season.

Yorkshire Roots and Championship Ambitions

• Made first-class debut for Yorkshire in 2009
• Won County Championships with Yorkshire in 2014 and 2015
• Will lead against Hampshire on April 4 - Yorkshire's first Division One game since 2022

Bairstow expressed his honor at the appointment:

"It's something as a young boy you dream about. To be asked with this group is a proud moment for me and my family."

Red-Ball Focus After IPL Absence

For the first time since 2018, Bairstow isn't participating in the Indian Premier League, allowing full focus on:

• County Championship campaign
• Possible England Test recall (last Test March 2024)
• Developing Yorkshire's young talent

Continuing the Bairstow Legacy

The appointment has special significance as Jonny follows his late father David Bairstow, who captained Yorkshire from 1984-1986:

"There are not many father-and-sons who've done this before. That's an exciting side to everything happening on the field."

Malan Takes T20 Reigns

While Bairstow leads the Championship side:

• Dawid Malan (37) will captain Yorkshire's T20 Blast campaign
• Brings 92 England white-ball appearances experience
• Holds white-ball only contract since 2023

Coaching Staff Perspective

Head coach Anthony McGrath praised the leadership setup:

"Both bring unrivalled international experience. Having world-class captains means our younger players will learn tremendously this season."

Yorkshire's Road Ahead

The dual-captaincy structure positions Yorkshire strongly across formats, blending Bairstow's Test pedigree with Malan's white-ball expertise.