2 days Ago
With the season opener against Hampshire getting underway tomorrow, Jonny Tattersall and Dom Bess are confident that Yorkshire can perform well on their return to the top tier. The White Rose secured their place in Division One of the Rothesay County Championship in their final league game of 2024, promoted after drawing with Northamptonshire at Headingley. Huddersfield native James Wharton hit 285 for Yorkshire during the match, the fifth highest score ever made at the ground.
Speaking exclusively to Vertu after they extended their partnership for 2025, Yorkshire’s captain for that fixture, Tattersall, shared his excitement for the season ahead. He said: “We go out there to win every game of cricket, regardless of who we might be playing, although it doesn’t always happen. “The ambitions of the club are to win a competition this year and there is no reason why we can’t be up there challenging as we have the talent to do it.
“It’s all down to whether we can produce the consistency that you need in red ball competition. “We’d also like to perform better in the shorter forms of the game as that is where we have probably underperformed, particularly in T20 cricket.” The club will be heading into the season with a new head coach, as former player Anthony McGrath takes over the role.
Anthony McGrath did a good job at Essex, and now he is looking to make his home county a major force again in domestic cricket. (Image: Joe Giddens/PA Wire) And the players are keen to get started with the Yorkshire native, as Tattersall discussed the impact he can have on the side. The keeper-batsman said: “I think everyone is looking forward to working with him.
“It’s a change and something different but we’ve heard a lot of good things from his time at Essex from various people around the country. “He is from Yorkshire originally as a one-club man, so he knows what this place means. “It’s going to be exciting to see what we can produce.
” Yorkshire’s leading spin bowler, Bess, also spoke to Vertu, and shared Tattersall’s confidence about the season ahead. He said: “It’s been a long winter, and I feel we are shaping up well as a squad. “We have some good senior boys, some good overseas players and the younger lads who are coming through are also making their name, so hopefully we can go all the way with it.
” Dom Bess is primarily in the Yorkshire team for his spin bowling, but he produced some useful innings with the bat last season too. (Image: Ray Spencer) Bess also reflected on the challenges Yorkshire will face after being promoted to Division One of the County Championship. He said: “Every side in Division One will fancy themselves and that is where the challenge is going to be because if you aren’t at the top, then you will probably be fighting around the bottom.
“But Division One is where this club should be. “There is always a challenge, as the quality in Division One is outstanding with a lot of very good players. “I always think that, in Division One, people are happy to take risks in trying to win games, they aren’t afraid about the potential of losing.
“That is how it should be, and it means you could be playing some really good cricket, but be eighth in the table. “It’ll be an interesting year and certainly an exciting one.” Bess is no longer realistically in England contention, so is set to play a key role in all formats for Yorkshire this season.
Conversely, Joe Root and Harry Brook are the two jewels in the crown of England's batting line-up. Yorkshire will be hoping to have them available for at least part of their County Championship campaign, before the start of the Test summer, but McGrath has already confirmed that neither will feature against Hampshire this week..
