YORKSHIRE’S wicketkeeping future is in safe hands, says Paul Shaw - the county’s keeping consultant.

Shaw is enthused by the development of Jonny Tattersall plus understudies Ben Birkhead and Harry Duke.

The part-time work of Shaw, the former head coach of England’s women, is helping to increase the competition in that department at Emerald Headingley.

He is also helping Tom Kohler-Cadmore develop his wicketkeeping work as the opening batsman looks to add an extra string to his bow with one eye on the increasing number of domestic short-form leagues around the world.

“We’ve had a great winter working with the three keepers, Jonny, Ben and Harry,” said Shaw.

“All of them have developed really nicely.

“I’ve been working with them for the last three years or so, and I was saying to Galey (Andrew Gale) and Martyn Moxon at the start of the season, ‘I’m really happy with where they’re at’.

“All three have developed their glove work nicely and can contribute well with the bat.”

England’s Jonny Bairstow aside, Tattersall has been Yorkshire’s first choice gloveman since late 2018.

Tattersall has quickly developed into a wicketkeeper having started his career as a specialist batsman only.

The 26-year-old has been short of runs in the County Championship so far this season, but his glove work has been impressive.

His 16 dismissals behind the stumps - all catches - is the joint sixth best haul in the 2021 Championship.

Shaw, who has largely been working two days a week during winters and more sporadically during summers, was present at Headingley on day one against Kent as part of the BBC local radio commentary team.

He said: “Watching Tatts, his rhythm, his movement, his timing, his glove work, they all looked really really good.”

Birkhead and Duke, aged 22 and 19 respectively, have split the wicketkeeping duties in the second team this season and have both scored half-centuries.

Birkhead has played one List A and one T20 game in his career, while former England Under 19 Duke is yet to make his first-team debut.

On Kohler-Cadmore’s development behind the stumps, Shaw continued: “From Tom’s perspective, if he can offer another discipline to a team in T20 or T10 cricket, that will stand him in good stead.

“We’ve had a session recently, and he’s got a great pair of hands.

“Standing at first slip gives him a fantastic starting point.

“The angle is obviously slightly different, but it certainly helps that he’s first and not second slip.

“But he’s used to catching a high volume of balls regularly in practice and in games.

“Who knows how it will end up, but it could be a very good move for him.”

Barnsley-born Shaw played Minor Counties Cricket with Staffordshire and has developed a successful coaching career, more prominently in the women’s game.

He currently combines his consultancy work at Headingley with his work as head coach of the Lancashire based North West Thunder in the women’s Regional set-up.

“I get stick both sides of the hill now!” he laughed.

“I walk into the commentary box here and Jonathan Doidge says, ‘Which Rose are you wearing today?’

“Then I get something similar from the girls when I go over to Old Trafford for training.”