Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Will Luxton in action for Yorkshire in last season’s Vitality Blast.
Will Luxton is hoping his run-filled winter in Melbourne will be the springboard for more of the same in a Yorkshire shirt this summer.
Luxton, aged 22, is preparing for what could be a landmark campaign in his fledging career.
The dynamic top-order batter is aiming to show more of the same in the Vitality Blast, whilst also pushing for more exposure in the Rothesay County Championship.
Luxton is now back with Yorkshire following a second successive winter playing for Greenvale Kangaroos in Victorian Premier grade cricket. He scored 764 runs in 16 matches, including scores of 120, 124, 115 and 155. The first three came in successive innings before Christmas.
“It helps when you get off to a decent start,” he said. “I obviously played a lot of cricket last summer, and you can just kind of carry it through.
“It was a good season for most of the lads who were out there – Dukey, Beany, Cliffy. They all did well. We were definitely happy with how we went.
“I’d take 700 runs every time I go out there.
“A good number of us had been out the winter before, but something just clicked this time. I don’t know whether it was because we were all training together a bit more.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. James Wharton congratulates Will Luxton on reaching his fifty during last season’s Championship draw against Surrey at Scarborough.
“We definitely got the most out of it this winter, both on the field and off it.”
Luxton captained Greenvale for much of the winter, winning his first game in charge against Fitzroy Doncaster in late October. He contributed 120. It was a rare win for a side who have struggled for a number of years.
“Weirdly enough, I’d actually had a chat with a couple of the (Yorkshire) coaches around captaincy,” he said.
“I’d occasionally captained the second team, and I feel like that role kind of engages my brain and switches me on a bit more.
“Then, I started captaining out there and got a few more runs.
“It’s something I have to keep thinking about, how to replicate that when I’m not captain.”
Luxton described the experience of captaining the Kangaroos as “tough but enjoyable”.
“I certainly enjoy captaining, for sure.”
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Fin Bean was another of Yorkshire’s players who travelled to Melbourne to play club cricket this winter.
Luxton was at his best in 2025 during the Vitality Blast, scoring 329 runs from 14 appearances with three fifties. The best of those was a stunning 90 not out in a Roses win over Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford. He played the perfect support role to centurion Jonny Bairstow that evening.
Bairstow, meanwhile, has today been confirmed as Yorkshire’s Blast captain for 2026, marrying up with his same role in the Championship. He replaces Gloucestershire-bound opener Dawid Malan.
Head coach Anthony McGrath revealed the news at yesterday’s media day, with it being confirmed officially during today’s opening season lunch at Headingley.
“It makes you want to come back and do it again,” said Luxton, of his Blast performances last summer.
“It’s a shortened comp this year, but it still should be a good campaign. We’ve made a few new signings, which should definitely help. We’re in a good place.
“It’s always been a tough format for us, the T20s.
“We’ve tried hard to improve. We’ve done a lot of work on that in pre-season.
“We’ve certainly strengthened. Signing Moeen Ali is unbelievable and Andrew Tye as well. Then, obviously, we’ve got the overseas lads coming in.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Jonny Bairstow, pictured at yesterday’s media day, will captain Yorkshire in both the Championship and T20 Blast this year.
“It’s fairly obvious that we’re desperate to win the Blast. We’re one of the few who’ve never won it, and it would be very special to go to Edgbaston and do it.”
Luxton batted in a number of positions in last season’s Blast. He opened and batted at four, but mainly filled the number three position.
With Malan’s departure, he is one of the obvious contenders to jump up to open alongside captain Bairstow.
“As long as I get the chance to play, I’d be happy to bat anywhere,” he said.
Luxton played three Championship matches last season with a best of 71, taking his tally of career first-class appearances up to 10.
It would be lovely to see him swell that number significantly in 2026.
“I just need to do what I need to do, which is take that chance when I get it,” he said. “If I can, hopefully I can cement a place for a good few games and then kick on from there.”
Meanwhile, on Bairstow’s captaincy appointment, McGrath said: “With Jonny not now going to the IPL and being here constantly, it made sense to keep that continuity. My view is that having a settled captain across all formats is easier for everyone. It can work having different captains. But, with Mala leaving the club and Jonny being here constantly, it makes sense.”
