Tom Kohler-Cadmore will deputise as captain during Yorkshire’s Vitality Blast campaign if David Willey is called away by England.
Andrew Gale confirmed his contingency plan as the competition’s schedule was released by the ECB this morning, with all games behind closed doors as things stand.
Yorkshire will begin their 10-game North Group campaign with a televised home clash with Nottinghamshire at Emerald Headingley on Thursday August 27 (6.30pm).
That fixture comes 24 hours before England’s three-match T20 series begins against Pakistan at Emirates Old Trafford, with Willey surely in contention to play.
The new Vikings captain made a stunning return to international cricket with a man-of-the-series display in three recent ODIs against Ireland in Southampton, returning eight wickets and scores of 47 not out and 51.
Kohler-Cadmore skippered Yorkshire in all but one Blast fixture last year when Steve Patterson left himself out.
And he was keen to take over full-time before 30-year-old Willey’s winter appointment.
Yorkshire’s hierarchy still believe batsman Kohler-Cadmore, 25, has all the makings of a future county captain.
“The captaincy will go straight to Tom,” said Gale.
“With Dave taking over the leadership, we thought we had all our plans in place.
“But Tom did a decent job last year and will fill in well for Dave if needed, I’m sure.”
There is also the possibility for some further limited overs matches between England and Australia through September, though that hasn’t been confirmed yet.
The T20 Blast has been formatted using the same three regional groups as the ongoing four-day Bob Willis Trophy.
Each team has five scheduled home and away games between August 27 and September 20 ahead of the quarter-finals on October 1 (reserve day on October 2) and then Finals Day at Edgbaston on Saturday October 3.
Yorkshire actually play six games at Emerald Headingley, with their final fixture on Sunday September 20 against Derbyshire scheduled as an away game.
Derbyshire cannot play at home this summer as their County Ground is a bio-secure venue for England’s women.
That fixture is a particular boost for Yorkshire given regular away Blast games against Derbyshire are usually played at Chesterfield, where they have lost on their last four visits.
“Every cloud,” laughed Gale.
“Every time we come away from there I’m scratching my head thinking, ‘How we’ve lost?’.”
The two standouts are always the two Roses clashes with Lancashire, and they will be played at Headingley on Monday September 14 and at Old Trafford on Thursday 17.
Only the second one is scheduled to be televised, although Yorkshire are making all their non-televised games available to members and non-members free of charge via a live streaming service.
The Vikings start their campaign with three games in five days. After the opener against Notts, they host Derby on August 30 and travel to face Notts at Trent Bridge the following day – Bank Holiday Monday.
There is a brief break in the schedule for the final round of the Bob Willis Trophy, with Yorkshire hosting Leicestershire, starting on September 6.
“It’s a tough schedule on the back of four four-day games in four weeks,” Gale said of the Blast.
“We’ve seen all around the country the injuries that have happened.
“But it’s the sort of thing where if you get off to a good start you can get on a run.
“T20 is a game of confidence and momentum, and the games come thick and fast.”
The ECB have also released the schedule for the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, a one-off 50-over competition played between the eight new Women’s Regional Centres of Excellence.
Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland will be represented by the Northern Diamonds.
The eight teams will be split into two groups of four, with each playing six games.
The two group winners will progress to a final scheduled for Saturday September 26, with the team who finishes with the most points hosting the final.
The Diamonds will play one home game at Durham’s Emirates Riverside and two at Headingley.
Meanwhile, in the T20 Blast, Headingley will also be a neutral venue host to a televised North Group double header on August 31. Derbyshire face Lancashire and Leicestershire face Durham.
Yorkshire Vitality Blast fixtures
Thursday August 27: Nottinghamshire (h), Emerald Headingley, 6.35pm SKY TV
Sunday August 30: Derbyshire (h), Emerald Headingley, 2pm
Monday August 31: Nottinghamshire (a), Trent Bridge, 2pm
Wednesday September 2: Leicestershire (h), Emerald Headingley, 6.30pm
Friday September 4: Durham (a), Riverside, 6.30pm
Friday September 11: Leicestershire (a), Grace Road, 6.30pm
Monday September 14: Lancashire (h), Emerald Headingley, 6.30pm
Wednesday September 16: Durham (h), Emerald Headingley, 6.30pm
Thursday September 17: Lancashire (a), Old Trafford, 6.35pm SKY TV
Sunday September 20: Derbyshire (a), Emerald Headingley, 1pm
Thursday October 1 (October 2 reserve day): QF:
Saturday October 3, Edgbaston: Finals Day
Northern Diamonds Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy fixtures
Saturday August 29: Central Sparks (a), Edgbaston
Monday August 31: Lightning (h), Riverside
Saturday September 5: Lightning (a), Grace Road
Thursday September 10: North West Thunder (a), Liverpool TBC
Sunday September 13: Central Sparks (h), Emerald Headingley
Saturday September 19: North West Thunder (h), Emerald Headingley
Saturday September 26: Final