Harrogate's Ben Coad happy to commit his future to Yorkshire County Cricket Club

It is no secret that the Headingley outfit is currently going through the most challenging time in its history - and not just off-the-field.

Relegation means that Yorkshire will play in Division Two of the County Championship next season, a far cry from when it was the dominant force in English cricket during the middle part of the last decade.

But 28-year-old fast bowler Coad, a man who made his Championship debut in 2016, when the club narrowly missed out on a hat-trick of titles, is up for the fight and has handed his home county a major fillip by agreeing a two-year contract extension.

If Yorkshire are to get through these dark days and return to the top table of English cricket, where they have resided more often than not during their illustrious history, then Coad could be a key figure as one of county cricket’s best and most consistent pacemen, a player who seems to sum up everything that is good about the sport as a humble, dedicated, model professional.

In 53 first-class games for Yorkshire, the former Harrogate CC man has taken 210 wickets at an average of 20.26, figures that put him in the highest echelon of domestic performers.

But for rotten luck with injuries, a curse that has similarly affected his new-ball partner Matty Fisher, that record would doubtless be more impressive, while Yorkshire, deprived of his and Fisher’s services for most of last season, might not have suffered relegation at all.

Ifs, buts and maybes, but Coad, who made his one-day debut for the White Rose in 2013, is determined that brighter days are just around the corner both for the club and himself personally.

Born in Harrogate and the proudest of Yorkshiremen, the ex-Thirsk School pupil is delighted to have agreed a deal which will keep him at Headingley until at least October 2025 as the club seeks to recapture the glory years they were enjoying when he burst on to the scene.

"It means a lot to be able to extend my contract with the club,” said Coad, who shot to prominence in 2017 when he took 53 first-class wickets that summer at 20.39.

“As a Yorkshire lad, I want to help this club get through the tough times and back into the position it should be.

“I love the responsibility I’ve had of leading our attack, and I’ll always try and lead by example on-and-off the pitch.

“If the lads ever need a helping hand, I’m always there, but we’ve got a great team, so it’s a very easy task to lead this attack.

“On a personal note, I just want to take as many wickets as possible and win games for the club.

“We are desperate to return to Division One and want to win some silverware.”

Darren Gough, Yorkshire’s managing director of cricket, paid tribute to Coad, who averaged just 19 with the ball last summer when he was fit to play. He described the player as integral to his plans.

“We are delighted to have secured Ben’s services for an additional two years and are looking forward to seeing him continue to perform for Yorkshire,” said Gough.

“He has been a pivotal part of our Championship team for many seasons, and we believe he will continue to lead our attack for years to come.

“Despite suffering the frustrations of an injury that kept him out for a chunk of this summer, Ben came back and showed his skills both in the One-Day Cup and Championship.

“We believe that, with another good winter in his legs, Ben can flourish again in 2023 and play a big part in our push to return to Division One.”

Another former Harrogate CC player, Jonny Tattersall, is also likely to have a big part to play as Yorkshire plot their return to the County Championship’s top-flight.

The 27-year-old was appointed 1st XI captain until the end of the 2022 season after Steve Patterson stepped down from the role at the end of July.

Tattersall, who grew up in Knaresborough, will not continue leading the team next term, with incoming Pakistan batsman Shan Masood handed the captaincy, but said the ex-King James School student said he was “proud” to have done the job on a short-term basis.

"It’s been a very proud honour to do it this year,” he said.

"It’s not a massive list of people who have captained the club, and it’s obviously a great thing that they trusted me to do it in the Championship and also in the 50-over competition with a fairly young side.”