YORKSHIRE County Cricket Club get their Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign underway today, as they take on Surrey at The Oval.
Twenty-year-old Yash Vagadia will have to wait to make his senior debut though, despite signing a new contract with the club this week, as he has not been named in the squad for the game.
The emerging young batsman has penned a two-year extension to his rookie professional deal through to the end of 2026.
The Newcastle-born right-hander, who also bowls very useful off-spinners, has been at Headingley since the age of 11 and has previously captained the county’s academy/under-18s teams.
Vagadia said: “I’ve been part of the club since I was 11, and I’ve loved every minute of it.
“I’ve relished my time at Yorkshire, and I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else.
“I’m really glad to have extended for another two years here.”
Yash Vagadia has high hopes for his senior career at Yorkshire, and the feeling is mutual. (Image: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com)
Vagadia signed his first rookie pro contract ahead of 2023 and, most recently, was Yorkshire’s leading run-scorer in the Second Eleven T20 competition as the county progressed through to last week’s final, beaten by Somerset at Wormsley.
Some of Vagadia's young team-mates in that final, like Will Luxton and Ben Cliff, have had some first-team exposure this season, and he hopes his turn is next.
Discussing the upcoming One-Day Cup, he said: “That’s my aim, to hopefully make my debut in the first team.
“It will be tough because we’ve not lost a lot of players to the Hundred and we have quite a strong squad. That’s great for the county, and hopefully I can break into that.
“The (second team) T20 comp, I feel like I’ve really shown signs of my ability. If I can build on that with some more runs, hopefully that first-team opportunity is not too far away.”
The likes of Luxton and Cliff are included in the squad for that Group B opener tomorrow, which Yorkshire prepared for on Sunday with a thumping 247-run warm-up win over Shropshire.
📰 Here's your Yorkshire Vikings squad to take on @surreycricket at The Kia Oval tomorrow in the Metro Bank One Day Cup! ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/kThBkI0aJQ
— Yorkshire Vikings (@YorkshireCCC) July 24, 2024
Batting first, Yorkshire hammered 382-5 from their 50 overs, Harry Duke scoring a sparkling 106 not out from just 55 balls.
Dom Bess then stood out for Yorkshire with ball in hand, taking 4-20 from seven overs as Shropshire were bowled out for just 135.
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