Anthony McGrath is expecting Yorkshire’s new seam bowling signing Jack White to be “a big, big asset” for the county heading into 2025 and beyond.
White, 32-years-old, swapped Northamptonshire for Yorkshire earlier this winter, signing a two-year contract at Headingley.
The Cumbrian quick heads into his sixth season as a professional with 114 wickets in 35 first-class matches under his belt, all for the Wantage Road county.
He is McGrath’s first signing since returning to Headingley as head coach from Essex, and the former England batting all-rounder is confident it will be a successful move.
“Jack’s got a really good record in Division One,” he said, referring to the 2022 summer when White claimed 50 wickets in 14 appearances.
“He’s struggled a bit with injuries this summer just gone, but he’s a bowler with a lot of talent.
Picture by Harry Trump/Getty Images. Anthony McGrath is excited by new signing Jack White.
“It’s clear coming in here and looking at the squad, with the seam bowlers that we’ve lost we need to strengthen in that area. To win any competition, you need a strong bowling unit.
“I think Jack’s profile – as I’ve said, he has a good record in Division One – the way he bowls with the new ball, I think he will be a big, big asset.
“He’s at a good age – he started a bit later on his cricketing journey.
“When he’s fit and firing, he’s a real handful and will complement the other bowlers in our attack.”
Having only debuted for Northamptonshire in 2020 – in his mid-20s – he has been on a similar journey to both Richard Gleeson and Jack Brooks, who started their pro careers with the same county.
Gleeson, a bowler with extra pace, moved back to his home county Lancashire before making his England debut in T20 cricket and then signing for Warwickshire.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Jack White appeals for a wicket against Yorkshire in September.
Skilful Brooks signed for Yorkshire and was part of the side which won back-to-back Championship titles in 2014 and 2015.
In terms of further comparisons, you would say that White’s style is more Brooks than Gleeson, including donning a headband which Brooks was famous for.
“Skilful is the word,” said McGrath. “He bowls a great length in four-day cricket. He can do stuff with the ball and gets wickets on flatter pitches as well.
“Particularly given the structure of the fixtures in England – we play a lot in April and May – if you have skilful bowlers, they can be a real handful. He’s someone who gets wickets and gets them fast.”
Highlighting McGrath’s final point about getting his wickets quickly, White has taken five wickets or more on five occasions, including a career best 6-38.
He has also taken four wickets in an innings on 10 other occasions.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Jack Brooks and Jack White have trodden the same carrier path in terms of starting at Northamptonshire and moving to Yorkshire.
Kendal-born White has also taken 35 career wickets in 29 appearances across 50-over and T20 cricket.
He made his one-day debut against Yorkshire at Scarborough in late July 2021 when he claimed 3-38 from 10 overs to bowl the hosts out for 222 in what ended as a No Result.
White’s last Northamptonshire appearance also came against Yorkshire, in the season-ending County Championship draw at Headingley in late September. He struck once in that match.
