ALEX Lees has become Yorkshire's youngest-ever professionally appointed captain at the age of 22 after being handed the reins for limited-overs cricket in 2016.

Lees takes over white-ball leadership duties from Andrew Gale, who resigned in August to concentrate on leading the County Championship team.

The Halifax-born opener beat off competition from "a number of candidates", according to coach Jason Gillespie, and admitted he had no doubts that the time was right for him to take the role.

"I had no doubts, none whatsoever," said left-handed batsman Lees, who skippered the side during the latter stages of the most recent summer.

"I'm really proud and it's humbling that Yorkshire see me as the best option to take the club forward in one-day cricket irrespective of my age.

"They told me last week but I've had to keep it quiet. I'm going to make sure I do everything I can to help Yorkshire win games.

"We have a really good blend of youth and experience. With myself coming in, there's a new direction and a new voice which will hopefully revitalise the team.

"We've signed David Willey and already have Adil Rashid and Liam Plunkett, who will hopefully play a bit more in the one-day forms than they have previously."

Yorkshire have not won any limited-overs silverware since 2002. They reached the T20 domestic final in 2012 but have underperformed since. The Vikings have reached the quarter and semi-finals of the last two Royal London Cups.

Lees said: "Everybody's right to highlight that we have the squad to win one-day trophies now. We should seize that moment.

"We picked a young side in the semi-final (against Gloucestershire in the RL50) and they will only learn from that.

"We lost but I'm confident that we'll come through next time. I think we're ready for the challenge."

Lees captained Yorkshire ten times last season, including one Championship match, and Gillespie said: "We thought he did a pretty good job.

"After considering a number of candidates, we feel Alex is the right fit for us as captain."

Lees stands alongside Lord Hawke as one of Yorkshire's two youngest skippers.

Hawke was also 22 when he took on the captaincy as an amateur in 1883 after leaving Cambridge University, although slightly younger.