Root signs for Yorkshire

Joe Root, the 18-year-old Sheffield-born opening batsman, has secured his future with Yorkshire. Root, who made his first-team debut against Essex in Yorkshire's final Pro40 game of the 2009 season, signed a three-year contract with the club.

Jonathan Bairstow (20), Oliver Hannon-Dalby (20), James Lee (20) and Gary Ballance (19) have all signed deals as well, which will extend their stay at Headingley until the end of 2011. With senior players such as Mathew Hoggard and Michael Vaughan no longer with the club, Stewart Regan, Yorkshire's chief executive, hopes to usher in a new era.

"We are heading into a new era after losing a number of senior players recently and therefore we felt it was essential to ensure that the undoubted talent that has emerged through our Academy system in recent years is retained," he said. "These youngsters will form the future of Yorkshire cricket and we want to look after them. It is now over to them to return the compliment and perform to the best of their abilities on the pitch next season."