Bairstow boost for Yorkshire

Yorkshire County Cricket Club are delighted to announce that England international Jonny Bairstow has signed a new three-year contract, which will keep him at Headingley until at least December 2018.
Jonny Bairstow: England's top scorer with 79.Jonny Bairstow: England's top scorer with 79.
Jonny Bairstow: England's top scorer with 79.

Bairstow, who is currently on the winter tour of South Africa with England will be hoping to cement his place in the Test side when the first Test gets underway in Durban on Boxing Day, had his best season with the bat accumulating 1108 Championship runs at an average of 92.33. During the Championship winning campaign, the combative right-hander scored five centuries including a career best of 219 not out against Durham at Chester-le-Street in June.

“I’m delighted to be signing a new contract with Yorkshire,” said Bairstow, who is currently preparing for England’s two-day tour match against a South Africa Invitational XI in Potchefstroom, which gets underway later today.

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“We had a tremendous season in Championship cricket lifting the title for a second successive season.

It is great to be part of a culture where winning and being successful is at the heart of what drives the team on.

“The players are determined more than ever to ensure that we continue to set the benchmark high.

“It is an exciting time to be part of Yorkshire and England cricket and I look forward to continuing to contribute to the success of both teams.

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“From an England point of view, I’m enjoying being part of the national set up and preparing well here in South Africa ahead of the opening Test Match in Durban on Boxing Day.”

Yorkshire’s director of cricket, Martyn Moxon is delighted that the 26-year-old has committed his long-term future to Headingley.

“It is great news that Jonny has signed on. He has been a big part of our success in the last few years. As we all know, he is an extremely talented cricketer.

“He is maturing and is an integral part of what we do. His best years are yet to come. I have great admiration for Jonny and his talents. I hope that he can fulfil his full potential in the coming seasons.

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“The next phase for him will be to achieve consistency in his performances with England. He has a great chance in South Africa to fulfil his goals against one of the best seam attacks in the world.

“We’ll all be watching on hoping he and the other Yorkshire lads succeed.”

Meanwhile, two Academy products – Jared Warner and Mathew Waite - have signed junior professional contracts until December 2017.

Seam bowler Warner, who celebrated his 19th birthday last month, is currently in Sri Lanka with the England under 19s squad. The Wakefield-born quick is highly regarded by the Yorkshire set-up and impressed for the Second XI last term.

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Waite, a talented all-rounder who will turn 20 on Christmas Eve, captained the Yorkshire Academy to Yorkshire League Cup and the Black Sheep Champions Trophy success in the summer, has already been involved in the senior set-up. He made his NatWest T20 Blast debut in July against Northamptonshire Steelbacks and has played four matches for the White Rose County in white ball cricket.

“Both Jared and Matthew deserve the recognition of earning a junior professional contract,” added Moxon.

“We expect them to progress even further over the next few years. Our objective is for them to be prepared and ready to step up to the senior side as and when they are called upon.

“They are both eager to succeed and are tremendous prospects for the future.

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“Jared brings pace. He is a genuinely quick bowler and Matthew is a good quality all-rounder. Both performed well in Second XI and were part of the successful Academy side that dominated the Yorkshire League and the Champions Trophy competitions.”

Waite has been given squad number six and Warner squad number 45.