Yorkshire’s performance in County Championship Division Two has not been particularly noteworthy.
This season, after facing relegation on the final day of the County Championship in 2022, Yorkshire was anticipated to contend for promotion in Division Two.
Contrary to their expectations, they did not win any of their first five contests. This week, they secured their first victory against Derbyshire by completing a fourth-inning chase in Chesterfield and winning by three wickets.
After the morale-boosting victory, Mark Steketee has been added to the Yorkshire squad. The Australian fast bowler’s record in first-class cricket is impressive, as he has taken 248 wickets in 69 matches at an average of 25.34. Mark Steketee finished the 2022–23 Sheffield Shield season with the third-most wickets. Last year, he was also a member of the Australian team that toured Pakistan.
“Mark is a youthful, talented athlete who has performed admirably in Australia. Yorkshire’s managing director of cricket, Darren Gough, told ESPN cricinfo that the team’s bowling resources needed to be bolstered due to the team’s schedule (blast games immediately followed by championship matches) and the number of ailments within the squad.
“Mark will be a wonderful addition to our existing squad and will give our championship campaign a further boost. We have our first championship victory under our grasp, and we intend to continue to advance. Mark can add a new dimension to our bowling lineup.
Here in Yorkshire, we are still striving to achieve the optimal equilibrium between youth and experience. Darren Gough
Darren Gough continued to describe the type of team that Yorkshire intends to assemble. The former England speedster expressed delight with the team’s development.
“At Yorkshire, we are still working hard to strike the right balance between youth and experience, but we now believe we have a squad where everyone has ample opportunities.”
The 29-year-old Steketee has been initially acquired by Yorkshire for the next four games. The club has indicated that an extension is possible following the initial four matches. Steketee will be available for Yorkshire’s upcoming match on June 25 against Gloucestershire in Leeds. The following four matches will be played against Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Sussex, and Durham.