Yorkshire County Cricket Club facts for kids
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One Day name | Yorkshire Vikings |
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Personnel | |
Captain | TBC |
Coach | Anthony McGrath |
Chief executive | Sanjay Patel |
Team information | |
Founded | 1863 |
Home ground | Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds |
Capacity | 18,350 |
History | |
First-class debut | Surrey in 1863 at The Oval |
Championship wins | 33 (including 1 shared) |
Pro40 wins | 1 |
FP Trophy wins | 3 |
Twenty20 Cup wins | 0 |
B&H Cup wins | 1 |
Official website | www.yorkshireccc.com |
Yorkshire County Cricket Club is a famous cricket team in England and Wales. It's one of 18 top-level county clubs. The club represents the historic area of Yorkshire. This team is the most successful in English cricket history. They have won the County Championship 33 times. Their most recent win was in 2015. The team's shorter game format is called the Yorkshire Vikings. Their team colors are light blue, dark blue, and yellow.
Yorkshire teams played top-level cricket since the 1700s. The club has always been a first-class team. Yorkshire has played in the County Championship since it officially started in 1890. They have played in every major cricket competition in England. Most home games are at Headingley Cricket Ground in Leeds. Another important place they play is North Marine Road Ground, Scarborough. This ground hosts the yearly Scarborough Festival.
Contents
Cricket's Start in Yorkshire
The first time cricket was definitely played in Yorkshire was in 1751. Local games happened in Sheffield. A game also took place near Richmond. It was between teams led by the Duke of Cleveland and the Earl of Northumberland.
Sheffield Cricket Club likely started around this time. Sheffield played matches against Leeds in 1765. A club began in Leeds in 1760 and in York in 1784. Bedale in North Yorkshire was also a key cricket spot in the early 1800s. But cricket grew slowly in most country areas. Sheffield became the main center for cricket in Yorkshire. It was more organized there.
From 1771, Sheffield played games against Nottingham Cricket Club. Nottingham was usually better. Sheffield sometimes used more players to try and win. Still, a Sheffield player named Tom Marsden was seen as one of the best players in the country in the 1820s.
Cricket became more popular after a special game in 1827. This game was played in Sheffield to test a new way of roundarm bowling. After this match, many new cricket clubs started in Yorkshire.
In 1833, the name "Yorkshire" was first used for a team. This team played against Norfolk. The Yorkshire team had eleven players from Sheffield. The name "Yorkshire" might have been used to match Norfolk's status as a county. The Yorkshire team was a bit different from the Sheffield teams. It included three amateur players, while Sheffield teams were all professional. The Yorkshire team played sometimes over the next 30 years. But it wasn't formally organized. By 1855, Sheffield and Yorkshire were playing at Bramall Lane.
Club's Journey Through Time
How the Club Began
On March 7, 1861, a group met in Sheffield. They created a committee to manage Yorkshire county matches. This committee included people from the Bramall Lane ground. It also had representatives from clubs willing to pay £1. But the committee couldn't convince other clubs that it wasn't just promoting Sheffield cricket. A lack of money stopped some matches from being played in 1862.
By this time, several cricketers were very good. The county team was one of England's strongest. So, on January 8, 1863, the Yorkshire County Cricket Club was officially formed. Anyone could join for a small fee. Like most top cricket clubs then, Yorkshire got money from rich supporters. Most players were professionals. They were paid about £5 per match. From this, they had to pay for travel and places to stay.
The first club President was Thomas Barker. He was also the Mayor of Sheffield. But he probably didn't go to many meetings. Michael Ellison was the first Treasurer. He later became President. Most official records say Ellison was the first President. Joseph ("J. B.") Wostinholm became the first of four long-serving club Secretaries in 1864. The first team captain was Roger Iddison, a professional player.
The club wanted to play matches in Sheffield or other towns in Yorkshire. But other places in Yorkshire couldn't or wouldn't host games at first. Bradford and York kept trying to organize their own games. This sometimes confused other counties. Attempts to form another Yorkshire team continued until 1884. But by 1873, most clubs accepted the Sheffield-based county club.
Early Years: 1863–1882
Yorkshire played its first top-level match against Surrey. This was at The Oval in June 1863. Surrey scored 315 runs. Yorkshire scored 257. Surrey was then bowled out for 60. The match ended in a draw. Yorkshire won its next game against the strong Nottinghamshire team. They won two and lost one of their first four matches.
In 1865, the club and players had a disagreement. Five players, including captain Roger Iddison, refused to play against Surrey. This was about a rule change allowing "overarm" bowling. The players felt they were being treated unfairly. Because important players were missing, Yorkshire didn't win any games in 1865. They even had to cancel some matches in 1866. The club and players settled their differences in 1867. The players apologized.
After the dispute, Yorkshire won all seven of its matches in 1867. They beat Surrey, Lancashire, and Cambridgeshire. Because of this, sports writers called Yorkshire the "Champion County" for the first time. The next year, John Thewlis scored Yorkshire's first century (100 runs) in a top-level match. In 1869, Joseph Rowbotham was the first to score two centuries in one season for Yorkshire. Yorkshire won four games in both 1868 and 1869. They were seen as equal champions in 1869. The team won six out of seven games in 1870 and were named Champion County again. Much of Yorkshire's success came from the great bowling of George Freeman and Tom Emmett.
After Freeman stopped playing regularly in 1870, Yorkshire's performance dropped. Gloucestershire became dominant. Yorkshire started a "Colts" team for young players. They also changed captains. Joseph Rowbotham became captain in 1873. In 1873, counties agreed on rules for players to be eligible for a team. This was seen as the start of the County Championship.
Even with good players, Yorkshire didn't do as well as expected. Their bowling was strong, and Ephraim Lockwood was considered the best professional batsman. In 1873, Yorkshire won seven games and lost five. For 1874, Luke Greenwood became captain. The team improved but lost badly to Gloucestershire twice. Greenwood retired, and Rowbotham was captain again in 1875. Lockwood took over in 1876. The team didn't play well in these seasons. Their worst year was 1877, winning only two games and losing seven.
Tom Emmett then became captain. The next two seasons had mixed results. The team was inconsistent. Some thought a lack of discipline was the problem. Others said the team drank too much. Players also got a lot of public attention and hospitality, which affected their play. The Yorkshire committee was slow to replace older players with younger ones. However, off the field, Yorkshire became more successful. Profits helped improve the Bramall Lane Ground. Player wages increased with travel money and bonuses for good play. New players helped Yorkshire finish second in 1881. Lord Hawke, then 21, also made his debut.
The team struggled again in 1882. Lord Hawke, who had refused the captaincy earlier, was appointed team captain at the end of the season. He was the first amateur to be captain. Previous captains were all professionals. Hawke remained in charge for 28 seasons until 1910. During his time, the team won eight County Championships.
The Hawke Era: 1883–1918
Lord Hawke was praised for his strong character. When he left Cambridge University, he took on the job of captaining Yorkshire. The team had some disagreements, but Hawke's "tact, judgment and integrity" made it "the best and probably the most united county cricket team in England."
Before 1883, Yorkshire was seen as an unusual team. Hawke's main goal was to help the team reach its full potential. His biggest challenge was to bring together the different groups within the club. At the end of 1882, the committee also decided to reorganize itself. This made the club represent the whole county, not just Sheffield.
Hawke became captain in 1883. He took his time and didn't make too many changes at first. Yorkshire improved in 1883, finishing second. However, the rest of the 1880s were disappointing. The team was "unreliable," mixing great achievements with poor performances. Older players were past their best, and younger ones didn't improve as expected. A bad season in 1889 led to changes. Several good new players joined. These included Jack Brown, David Hunter, and Stanley Jackson. Bobby Peel also became a very good bowler. Later, John Tunnicliffe, David Denton, Ted Wainwright, and George Hirst joined. Hawke focused on fielding practice, and players became excellent fielders.
In 1893, the club's reorganization was finished. Yorkshire won its first official County Championship. This showed Hawke's focus on teamwork and discipline. Yorkshire finished second and third in 1894 and 1895. The team kept getting better. Brown and Tunnicliffe formed a strong opening partnership. Denton and Jackson supported them. Peel, Wainwright, and Hirst led the bowling attack.
In 1896, Yorkshire won its second title. They had amazing batting, including a record score of 887 runs. Hawke started paying professional players during the winter. This was initially £2 per week. The plan later included bonuses. Peel was replaced in 1898 by Wilfred Rhodes. Rhodes took 141 wickets in his first season. In the same year, Brown and Tunnicliffe set a record partnership of 554 runs. Yorkshire won their third Championship in 1898. They almost won again in 1899 but lost a late-season game.
From 1900 to 1902, Yorkshire lost only twice in the County Championship. They won the Championship in all three seasons. This was mainly thanks to their two amazing all-rounders, Hirst and Rhodes. When Joseph Wolstinholm retired as club secretary in 1902, Frederick Toone took over. Toone worked well with Hawke. They improved contracts for professional players. Until 1914, players were paid £5 for a home match and £6 for an away match. They also got a £1 bonus for a win. Players who received their county cap had to join the Cricketers' Friendly Society. They were paid £2 a week in winter.
Yorkshire stayed a strong team from 1903 to 1914. They won three more titles and finished second three times. They won their seventh title in 1905. In 1906, George Hirst did something unique. He scored 2,385 runs and took 208 wickets. The 1906 championship was decided on the last day. Yorkshire lost by one run and Kent won the title. Yorkshire finished third in 1907. In 1908, Yorkshire went the whole season without losing. They bowled out Northamptonshire for just 27 and 15 runs. This total of 42 runs is the lowest in English first-class cricket. Yorkshire finished third in 1909. They then dropped to eighth and seventh place. But they recovered in 1912 and won their last title before World War I. Hirst, Rhodes, and Denton continued to play well. Two new all-rounders, Major Booth and Alonzo Drake, also helped a lot. Arthur Dolphin replaced the retired David Hunter as wicketkeeper. In 1913 and 1914, Yorkshire finished second and fourth. Lord Hawke played only a few matches in 1909. He officially resigned as captain in 1910. Everard Radcliffe and then Sir Archibald White took over as captain until the war started in August 1914.
Post-War Success: 1919–1945
Yorkshire won the first Championship after World War I in 1919. This year saw the debuts of Herbert Sutcliffe and Emmott Robinson. Yorkshire remained a strong team until World War II. They won every year from 1922 to 1925. They also won seven more times in the 1930s. For example, in 1923, they won 25 games. Rhodes and Roy Kilner both achieved "the double" (1,000 runs and 100 wickets). Four other batsmen scored 1,000 runs, and three other bowlers took 100 wickets.
Yorkshire's biggest rivalry is with Lancashire. This "Roses Match" was most important between the wars. For many years, Yorkshire and Lancashire were the best teams in English cricket. Writer Neville Cardus helped make this rivalry even more famous.
Wilfred Rhodes retired in 1930. He took 73 wickets and scored 478 runs in his last season at age 53. A newspaper wrote that he "had bowled at W. G. Grace, and he bowled at Don Bradman." Rhodes was replaced by Hedley Verity, another skilled bowler. In 1932, Verity achieved an amazing feat. He took ten wickets for only ten runs against Nottinghamshire. This was at Headingley. Percy Holmes and Sutcliffe had a record opening partnership of 555 runs in 1932. Len Hutton started his career in the 1930s.
Mid-Century Dominance: 1946–1970
Many people came to watch cricket after World War II. In 1946, 47,000 people watched the Roses Match. Yorkshire won the first post-war Championship. New players included spinner Johnny Wardle, all-rounder Brian Close, and fast bowler Fred Trueman. Bob Appleyard became the first bowler to take 200 wickets in his first full season in 1951. The 1950s were dominated by Surrey, who won seven championships in a row. Yorkshire had some internal issues. These were fixed before the 1959 season. Yorkshire won the title back under Ronnie Burnet.
The 1960s saw a new Yorkshire team that was very strong. Brian Close became captain in 1963. He won the Championship in his first season. The team included Fred Trueman, Ray Illingworth, Jimmy Binks, and Test batsmen Geoffrey Boycott, Doug Padgett, Phil Sharpe, and John Hampshire. The team started to break up after winning a third title in a row in 1968. Close was controversially removed as captain in 1970.
Challenges and Changes: 1971–2000
After this, the club had a long period of problems. In 1973, Bramall Lane, the club's first home ground, closed for cricket. It became a football stadium.
Geoff Boycott was Yorkshire's captain for most of the 1970s. But the team didn't win many titles. Even when Boycott left Test cricket for three years to focus on the county game, they struggled. He was removed as captain after the 1978 season. Ray Illingworth returned as team manager. In 1982, at age 50, he became captain. Yorkshire finished last in the County Championship for the first time in 1983. But they won the John Player (later National) League for the first time. More controversy happened when Boycott was not offered a new contract. This led to the general committee resigning. Boycott was then put back on the team. Meanwhile, Brian Close became chairman of the cricket committee. Yorkshire still struggled to win major titles. However, Phil Carrick led the team to win the Benson and Hedges Cup in 1987.
From 1968 to 1992, Yorkshire had a rule. All its players had to be born within the historic county of Yorkshire. This put them at a disadvantage. Other county teams signed strong overseas players. In 1992, this rule was changed. Players educated in Yorkshire could also play. This allowed Michael Vaughan to join. The rule was eventually removed completely. Yorkshire's first ever overseas player that season was 19-year-old Sachin Tendulkar.
Modern Era: 2001 to Present
Yorkshire finally won the County Championship again in 2001. David Byas was the captain. Yorkshire had mixed success in the early 2000s. They finished a close third in the 2010 championship under Andrew Gale.
For many years, there was a discussion about why players from Yorkshire's diverse ethnic minority population didn't seem to make it into the club. Tendulkar was the first Asian player for Yorkshire, but he was from overseas. In 2003, Ismail Dawood became the first British-born Asian player for Yorkshire. He was followed by Ajmal Shahzad and Adil Rashid, who both played for England. In 2007, Azeem Rafiq became the first player of Asian background to captain England at any level (U-15). In 2012, Rafiq stepped in to captain the team for six T20 matches. He became the first player of Asian origin to lead the county. He was also the youngest captain in the club's history.
The club was moved down a division at the end of a tough 2011 season. This led to big changes in the coaching staff. Former player Jason Gillespie became coach. After quickly getting promoted back up, Gillespie rebuilt the team. They challenged strongly for the title in 2013, finishing second. Yorkshire then won the title in both 2014 and 2015. This was their last win to date.
Club's Commitment to Inclusivity
In 2020, issues about fairness and inclusion were raised at Yorkshire County Cricket Club. In response, the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) took action to ensure the club improved its governance and management. The club has since been working to create a more welcoming and fair environment for everyone involved in cricket. This includes making sure all players feel supported and respected.
Team Badge and Colors
Lord Hawke designed the white rose badge early in his time as captain. He got the idea from Lancashire, who used a red rose. Hawke's rose was not a real flower. It had eleven petals, one for each player on the team. Only players who had received their county cap were allowed to wear the badge. In the 1980s, the club allowed the design to be used on merchandise to help with marketing. Yorkshire's club colors are dark blue, light blue, and gold. These colors are used in the V-neck of the players' sweaters.
Where Yorkshire Plays
Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire. This includes the three ridings and the City of York. The club even played some home matches outside these historic borders. This was at Sheffield's Abbeydale Park, which was historically part of Derbyshire, from 1974 to 1996.
The club started on January 8, 1863, in Sheffield. It was first based at Bramall Lane. Yorkshire first played at North Marine Road, Scarborough in 1878. This is still where the yearly Scarborough Festival matches are held. Headingley was first used in 1888. Test cricket began there in 1899. Eight years earlier, in 1891, Yorkshire played its first top-level match there against Kent. This was also the year the club's main office moved to Headingley. Other grounds in Hull, Sheffield, Bradford, Middlesbrough, and Harrogate were used successfully until the 1970s.
On December 31, 2005, Yorkshire bought the Headingley cricket ground for £12 million. They got help from a £9 million loan from Leeds City Council. This purchase means that Test cricket will continue to be played there for at least 15 years. On January 11, 2006, the stadium was officially renamed the Headingley Carnegie Stadium. This was due to sponsorship from Leeds Metropolitan University. The club also announced plans to rebuild the stand next to the rugby ground. This would add 3,000 seats, making the capacity 20,000. On August 25, 2006, the club announced plans to redevelop the Winter shed (North) stand. This would create a £12.5 million pavilion complex.
Club Management and Support
The club was founded in 1863 and owned by its members. Members elected officials, including a general committee. In 2002, this committee was replaced by a board of management. This board is led by a chief executive. The role of club President still exists. In 2017, there were seven board members. These included the chief executive and the director of cricket. Other roles include coaching, ground staff, and marketing. The important role of club Secretary effectively ended in 2002. Like all county clubs, Yorkshire relies a lot on sponsorship. Many companies have supported the club over the years. Current partners and sponsors are listed on the club's website.
Year | Kit Manufacturer | First-Class Shirt Sponsor | One-Day Shirt Sponsor | T20 Shirt Sponsor |
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1999 | Asics | Yorkshire Tea | ||
2000 | ||||
2001 | ||||
2002 | Lee Cooper | |||
2003 | Exito | |||
2004 | Costcutter | |||
2005 | Bradford & Bingley | |||
2006 | ||||
2007 | ||||
2008 | Canterbury | |||
2009 | ||||
2010 | Gray-Nicolls | Visit Yorkshire | ||
2011 | JCT600 | |||
2012 | ||||
2013 | ||||
2014 | Puma | Mazars | ||
2015 | ||||
2016 | ||||
2017 | ||||
2018 | ||||
2019 | ||||
2020 | William Hill | |||
2021 | Nike | NIC Services Group | Nuii | |
2022 | Kukri | NIC Services Group | Seat Unique |
Players
Current Squad
- No. shows the player's shirt number.
means the player has played for their country.
- * means the player has been given a county cap.
No. | Name | Nat | Birth date | Batting style | Bowling style | Notes | |
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Batters | |||||||
9 | Adam Lyth* ![]() |
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25 September 1987 | Left-handed | Right-arm off break | ||
23 | James Wharton | ![]() |
1 February 2001 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | ||
29 | Dawid Malan* ![]() |
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3 September 1987 | Left-handed | Right-arm leg break | White ball contract | |
32 | Noah Kelly | ![]() |
21 September 2005 | Left-handed | — | ||
33 | Finlay Bean | ![]() |
16 April 2002 | Left-handed | — | ||
66 | Joe Root* ![]() |
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30 December 1990 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | England central contract | |
68 | Will Luxton | ![]() |
6 May 2003 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | ||
88 | Harry Brook* ![]() |
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22 February 1999 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | England central contract | |
— | Jawad Akhtar | ![]() |
19 November 2005 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | ||
All-rounders | |||||||
18 | George Hill* | ![]() |
24 January 2001 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | ||
44 | Jordan Thompson* | ![]() |
9 October 1996 | Left-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | ||
45 | Yash Vagadia | ![]() |
7 May 2004 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | ||
47 | Dom Bess* ![]() |
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22 July 1997 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | ||
77 | Matt Revis | ![]() |
15 November 2001 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | ||
Wicket-keepers | |||||||
12 | Jonathan Tattersall* | ![]() |
15 December 1994 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | ||
21 | Jonny Bairstow* ![]() |
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26 September 1989 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | England central contract | |
22 | Harry Duke | ![]() |
6 September 2001 | Right-handed | — | ||
Bowlers | |||||||
3 | Adil Rashid* ![]() |
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17 February 1988 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | White ball contract; England central contract |
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4 | Matt Milnes | ![]() |
29 July 1994 | Right-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | ||
5 | Jafer Chohan | ![]() |
11 July 2002 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | ||
10 | Ben Coad* | ![]() |
10 January 1994 | Right-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | ||
11 | Dan Moriarty | ![]() |
12 February 1999 | Left-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | UK Passport | |
26 | Ben Cliff | ![]() |
23 October 2002 | Right-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | ||
— | Alex Wade | ![]() |
28 November 2006 | Right-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | ||
— | Jack White | ![]() |
19 February 1992 | Left-handed | Right-arm fast-medium |
Players Who Played for England
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Club Captains
Four Yorkshire players have captained England to win The Ashes. These are Stanley Jackson, Len Hutton, Ray Illingworth, and Michael Vaughan. But none of them were Yorkshire's club captain at that time. Ray Illingworth had just left Yorkshire when he became England captain.
Lord Hawke famously said in 1925 that he hoped a professional player would never captain England. He believed an amateur should always lead. Because of this, it was surprising that Hawke supported Herbert Sutcliffe becoming Yorkshire captain in 1927. Sutcliffe was a professional. But there was too much opposition from the committee and players. So, the idea was dropped.
In 1960, Vic Wilson became Yorkshire's first professional captain since Tom Emmett. Brian Close, who took over in 1963, has been Yorkshire's most successful professional captain. He led them to four County Championships.
Club Officials
Directors of Cricket
- 2002 Geoff Cope
- 2007–2021 Martyn Moxon
Managing Director of Cricket
- 2021 to 2024 Darren Gough
Coaching Staff
- Head Coach Ottis Gibson
- Assistant Coach Kabir Ali
- Assistant Coach Alistair Maiden
- Second Eleven Coach Tom Smith
Club Presidents
Here are the people who have been President of Yorkshire:
From | To | Name |
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1863 | 1863 | Thomas Barker |
1864 | 1897 | Michael Ellison |
1898 | 1938 | Martin Hawke, 7th Baron Hawke |
1939 | 1947 | Sir Stanley Jackson |
1948 | 1960 | Tom Taylor |
1961 | 1973 | Sir William Worsley |
1974 | 1981 | Sir Kenneth Parkinson |
1981 | 1983 | Norman Yardley |
1984 | 1989 | Viscount Mountgarret |
1989 | 1990 | Sir Leonard Hutton |
1991 | 1999 | Sir Lawrence Byford |
1999 | 2004 | Robin Smith |
2004 | 2006 | David Jones |
2006 | 2008 | Bob Appleyard |
2008 | 2009 | Brian Close |
2010 | 2011 | Ray Illingworth |
2012 | 2014 | Geoffrey Boycott |
2014 | 2016 | Dickie Bird |
2016 | 2017 | John Hampshire |
2017 | 2019 | Richard Hutton |
2019 | 2022 | Geoff Cope |
2023 | Jane Powell |
Club Secretaries
Here are the people who have been Secretary of Yorkshire:
From | To | Name |
---|---|---|
1863 | 1863 | George Padley |
1864 | 1902 | Joseph B. Wostinholm |
1903 | 1930 | Frederick Toone |
1931 | 1971 | John Nash |
1972 | 1991 | Joe Lister |
1991 | 2002 | David Ryder |
2002 | 2005 | Brian Bouttell |
Club Achievements
First Team Wins
- County Championship (32) – 1893, 1896, 1898, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1905, 1908, 1912, 1919, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1946, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1968, 2001, 2014, 2015; shared (1) – 1949
- FP Trophy' (3) –' 1965, 1969, 2002
- National League' (1) –' 1983
- Benson & Hedges Cup (1) – 1987
Second Team Wins
- Second XI Championship (5) – 1977, 1984, 1991, 2003, 2022; shared (1) – 1987
- Second XI Trophy (1) – 2009, 2017
- Minor Counties Championship (5) – 1947, 1957, 1958, 1968, 1971
Other Trophies
- Fenner Trophy (3) – 1972, 1974, 1981
- Asda Challenge (1) – 1987
- Ward Knockout Cup (1) – 1989
- Joshua Tetley Festival Trophy (6) – 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998; shared (1) – 1992
- Tilcon Trophy (1) – 1988
- Under-25 Competition (3) – 1976, 1978, 1987
- Bain Clarkson Trophy (1) – 1994
See also
In Spanish: Yorkshire County Cricket Club para niños