New fast-bowling recruit Jack White says he has fulfilled a long-held ambition by signing for Yorkshire this winter.
White, 33-years-old, penned a two-year contract at Headingley before Christmas, with a desire to play Division One cricket leading him to leave Northamptonshire.
However, that was far from the only reason for his move to the Broad Acres.
“My dad is from Huddersfield, and I’ve got cousins who are still over here,” he explained. “I stayed with my aunt a couple of weeks ago before training. She lives in Rothwell.
“There’s a definite connection there, and if I’m honest – deep down – I’ve always wanted to play for Yorkshire. To be able to do it is an incredible feeling.”
White’s signing was announced in early November.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Jack White appeals for a wicket against Yorkshire at Headingley last September.
Since then, he has spent time training in South Africa as well as at Headingley and is currently in Abu Dhabi on Yorkshire’s pre-season tour. He impressed with three wickets in yesterday’s T20 win over the South Asian Cricket Academy.
Kendal-born White has been travelling to Headingley from his home base in the Lake District, as he did when he was at Northamptonshire, for whom he made his professional debut in the shortened Covid summer of 2020.
He has since gone on to take 149 wickets across all formats, including 114 in 35 first-class appearances.
White plans to set up home in Yorkshire, where he has enjoyed his first few months.
“It’s been good,” he said. “It’s really exciting to be at a new club, and everyone’s been really welcoming.
“The spirits are super-high after the lads got promoted last year, so the atmosphere is very good.
Picture by YCCC. Jack White talks to batting coach John Sadler during Yorkshire’s pre-season photo call at Headingley earlier this month.
“It feels like there’s a lot of momentum. I played here in the last game of last season, which was tough with how that game panned out.
“You could tell then that the lads were really up, which you would be getting promoted. But it certainly feels like everything is moving the right way.”
Explaining how the move to Headingley came about, he continued: “I had a clause in my contract at Northamptonshire where if we didn’t play in Division One, I could leave. And that didn’t happen for Northants. I love playing in Division One, and the opportunity to come here was too good to turn down.
“I love playing in Div One, it’s such a good challenge.”
In 2023, White claimed 50 wickets in 14 matches for Northamptonshire in a Division One campaign in the Rothesay County Championship.
He said: “Unfortunately we didn’t have a great season that year, but I did well personally and it does give you confidence to think, ‘I’ve done it at that level, I can do it again’.
Picture by YCCC. Jack White,. in the middle of Jafer Chohan and Dom Bess, celebrates a Yorkshire wicket against Essex on Friday in the Abu Dhabi Counties Super Cup competition.
“I’ll give it everything. I love bowling. I can’t get enough of it. I just hope I can take some wickets and help win games for Yorkshire.”
In recent years, White has been playing at Wantage Road under John Sadler as head coach. Sadler is now Yorkshire’s batting coach.
“It’s mad how we’ve both ended up here in the space of a couple of months,” he smiled. “It’s been nice to have a familiar face around, but – as I say – everyone has been great with me.”
Sadler, meanwhile, has hailed White’s skill and character and is backing him to be a big hit in a Yorkshire shirt.
He said: “Jack’s an incredible bowler. He’s matured quite late and has had to do it the hard way and earn where he’s got to now. He was out of the system and has been a late bloomer.
“What he brings is incredible control, incredible skill and consistency day in and day out.
Picture by YCCC. Yorkshire’s new batting coach John Sadler believes Jack White will be an excellent signing. The pair know each other well from their Northamptonshire days.
“He bowls an immaculate length, which is that awkward length for batters where they’re not sure whether to go forwards or back. He challenges the stumps and is a very skilful with what he does.
“He will try his heart out, he’s a great professional and really adds to what we’ve already got here – a very strong battery of fast bowlers.”
After winning two of their three matches in the Abu Dhabi Counties Super Cup T20 competition, with White returning 3-10 from three overs in yesterday’s win over SACA, Yorkshire have now switched their attentions to red-ball cricket.
They play Somerset in a two-day friendly on Friday and Saturday before returning to Headingley to ramp up preparations for the Rothesay County Championship opener against Hampshire at the Utilita Bowl on April 4.
