Yorkshire CCC “the only real choice” for proud Jonny Bairstow
JONNY BAIRSTOW is set to see out the rest of his career with Yorkshire after signing a new three-year deal with the club.
The Yorkshire red-ball captain has agreed an extension through to 2028 and said that staying with the club was “the only real choice”.
Bairstow, whose central contract with England has expired, would have attracted interest from rival clubs.
But his passion for Yorkshire remains strong and he believes that the forthcoming period is “hugely exciting”, with many more “cherished memories” to be forged.
“I’m delighted to have signed a contract extension and am looking forward to playing my part in what is a hugely exciting period for Yorkshire,” said Bairstow, who turned 36 during the final week of last season.
“Having come through the age-groups and spent all my career here, it was the only real choice for me, and I’ll continue to wear the White Rose with pride over the next three years.
“Leading the side in the Championship this year was a real honour, and I can’t wait to get back out there in 2026. The performances we put in, particularly in the second half of the campaign, were very encouraging and I am confident that we have got a group of players that can challenge the very best teams over the next few years.
“I’ve enjoyed some of my most cherished memories on the field at Yorkshire and am confident there are plenty more to come. I’d like to thank everyone involved with the club for their backing - we are lucky to have such passionate support and together we will build an exciting future for Yorkshire.”
Bairstow, appointed captain of the County Championship team before the start of last season, will continue in the role despite his obvious appeal in the franchise world.
Last season, he was whisked away as a short-term replacement by the Indian Premier League side Mumbai Indians, a deal that Yorkshire acknowledged was too good to turn down, and he is likely to remain in demand for the top tournaments and will soon embark on winter stints in the ILT20 in the United Arab Emirates and the SA20 in South Africa.
Gavin Hamilton, the Yorkshire general manager of cricket, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Jonny has committed the next three years of his career to the club.
“Jonny remains one of the best batters in the English game, capable of changing a game single-handedly, and we are very lucky to have him in our side.
“We saw the impact he can have on numerous occasions this summer, and I have no doubt that there will be many more game-changing performances to come.
“As one of the most experienced international cricketers around, he also has a brilliant influence on the rest of the squad and will continue to drive high standards across our group in the coming years.”
Hamilton said Bairstow’s passion for Yorkshire was strong.
The player has never given less than his best since making his debut in 2009, averaging an exceptional 49.56 for the county in 113 first-class appearances, which that have brought him 7,584 runs to sit alongside 287 appearances for his country in all formats.
“Yorkshire supporters know exactly what they get from Jonny Bairstow - a serious amount of passion and pride at representing his home club and a strong desire to deliver silverware for Yorkshire,” said Hamilton.
“His mentality and approach to the game have already had a strong influence on our culture, and I have no doubt he will continue in the same vein.
“Locking Jonny in for another three years is huge for us, and I’m sure I’ll be joined by many supporters in being excited to see him pulling on the White Rose a lot more moving forward.”