A homegrown quick ready to shine
Bradley Sylvester is another example of the strength and success of Yorkshire’s Pathway and Academy system.
A fast bowler from Huddersfield, Sylvester has signed a two-year rookie professional contract at Headingley and has represented the England Under 19s.
Both of those things happened during the latter stages of the 2026 summer, making it a memorable period in the 19-year-old’s career.
And there’s plenty more to come.
“He’s a very good bowler,” said Yorkshire’s head coach Anthony McGrath.
“He’s putting pace on all the time, is good with the new ball, and he can bat as well. He’s deserved his rookie contract, and we want him to kick on next year.”
McGrath said Sylvester was close to making his first-team debut in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, though injuries for senior heads Ben Coad and Jack White prior to that campaign forced a rethink. Both of those players needed overs in their legs ahead of a busy final block of Championship matches in August and September, meaning the teenager had to be patient.
Sylvester was regularly around the first-team squad during the final couple of months of the summer, taking to the field as a substitute fielder in the process.
In July, he played twice for the England Under 19s, taking four wickets in each of two Test Match appearances against South Africa at Beckenham and Hove.
Sylvester’s first recorded appearance in a Yorkshire shirt came at Under 13s level, while he debuted for the second team in 2024.
He was part of the Yorkshire Under 18s side which won the one-day County Cup against Middlesex in late 2024, taking the new ball and returning 3-28 from six overs as the county successfully defended a 248-target at Kibworth in Leicestershire.
A right-armer with a good, strong action, he claimed a superb 6-20 having taken the new ball for the Under 18s in a 50-over friendly at Worcestershire in May 2025. Three of his wickets were bowled.
He has played league cricket for Slaithwaite in his hometown of Huddersfield and, for the last three summers, Cleckheaton in the Bradford League. He also spent last winter playing club cricket out in Melbourne.
OCTOBER 2026.
