Yorkshire: Jonny Bairstow to captain White Rose in County Championship

Bairstow, a veteran of 100 Tests, will lead Yorkshire out for the first time on 4 April away to Hampshire in their first Division One game since 2022.

For the first time since 2018, Bairstow is not at the Indian Premier League and can turn his full attention to the county game.

He has not played a Test since March 2024 and his last T20 international was in the T20 World Cup last summer.

The Bradford-born cricketer, who has made 12 Test centuries and was a World Cup winner in 20-over and 50-over cricket, was a Championship winner with the White Rose in 2014 and 2015.

Now his job is to lead from the front as the team tries to re-establish itself in the top flight.

“It’s a huge honour to become Yorkshire captain,” he said.

“It’s something as a young boy you dream about. It’s something you want to do, no matter if it’s the first few years of your career or the last few years of your career.

“To be asked to do that with the group of boys we’ve got is a proud moment for me, for the family and I hope it’s an exciting time this year for the guys.”