The Yorkshire County Cricket Club is pleased to announce that we will be returning to the United Arab Emirates next March alongside four other counties in what promises to be a highly-competitive pre-season tour.
A regular destination for the county for 10 years up to the last tour in early 2017, Ottis Gibson and Darren Gough will take their players to Abu Dhabi for almost two weeks from March 11, as part of preparations for the 2024 season.
They will play white and red ball matches against the likes of Essex, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Warwickshire and local opposition.
Yorkshire will play white and red ball matches against the likes of Essex, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Warwickshire and local opposition.
Yorkshire will participate in a six-team, three-day T20 festival. All the counties will be involved alongside a select XI representing Abu Dhabi.
Yorkshire will then play a two-day red ball match, with all fixtures taking place at the Zayed Cricket Academy complex, which houses the Sheikh Zayed Stadium international venue.
Anthony McGrath, Essex’s current head coach, will be amongst the opposition.
He actually captained Yorkshire as a player in March 2008 when the county played a 50-over fixture against Lancashire at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium – the first ever Roses fixture to be played on foreign soil. Yorkshire won that day against a Red Rose team including Andrew Flintoff.
The tour will be the first opportunity for the entire Yorkshire first-team group to train and play together after a long winter, with several players returning from off-season assignments across the globe.
Young guns Matthew Revis and James Wharton, for example, are currently enjoying a winter of grade cricket in Queensland and Western Australia respectively.
New signing Dan Moriarty will be one of the tourists ahead of his first full season with Yorkshire.
Yorkshire’s Dan Moriarty celebrates dismissing Sussex’s Henry Crocombe in 2023.
Darren Gough, Managing Director of Cricket at Yorkshire CCC, said: “We have a nice blend of youth and experience.
“It’s an exciting squad and a group that is ready to take on the challenge of what will be a brilliant festival.
“We are looking forward to travelling to Abu Dhabi. Playing in hotter and tougher conditions is great preparation for our season ahead and will be an amazing learning opportunity for both the players and the staff.
“We respect all the teams who are part of the T20 festival and are really looking forward to the challenge.”
Yorkshire will return on Friday March 22 to carry on preparations for the start of the season in early April. The full county fixtures are to be released by the ECB this coming Thursday at 10am.
Members and fans wishing to watch the Yorkshire side in action in the sunnier climes before the season begins in earnest can book their trips through Sporta Tours.
The full details of what the spectators’ package entails, as well as how to register your interest, can be found by clicking below.
