JONNY Tattersall is the surprise new choice as Yorkshire captain.

The wicket-keeper batsman takes over from Steve Patterson in leading the four-day side, after the veteran bowler stepped down with immediate effect after last week's defeat to Hampshire.

The 27-year-old was only recalled to Championship action at the start of July, but has done well, making 306 runs in only three matches.

The Harrogate-born star will also captain Yorkshire in the Royal London One-Day Cup, with their campaign getting underway today at home to Northamptonshire at York's Clifton Park ground.

After his appointment was confirmed, Tattersall told the Yorkshire CCC website: “Playing for Yorkshire in itself is a massive thing for me, so to be captaining them is an unbelievable privilege. I’m so proud to have been asked.

“It’s a little bit of a surprise, but Patto mentioned that he was stepping down after the last Championship game.

“He’s done a great job with it over the last three-and-a-half-years. He’s taken us forward and has been brilliant in helping everyone out.

“Captaincy is always something that’s interested me. I’ve done a lot before, at junior level, with the England Under 19s and at second-team level.

“I also did a warm-up game with the first team against Durham Uni last year.

“It’s going to be a good challenge. We need to rally the troops for the last four games in the Championship, and this one-day competition is going to be exciting.

“It’s been made clear to me that it is for the rest of the season, and we’ll have to see after that. It’s a good chance to get stuck in.

“We have a young squad out in this competition, and we’ll try and enjoy it.

“That’s why we play the game in the first place, for the enjoyment of it – that’s whether you’re playing professionally or in your back garden.

“The higher up the levels you go, the pressure increases and you can lose that enjoyment factor. But I want us to go out there, give 100 per cent and embrace the challenges that face us.

“If we do that, I’m sure we’ll get some good results in this and in the Championship as well when that resumes in September.”