Yorkshire wicketkeeper-batsman Richard Blakey will go on fighting for a first team place, despite having been appointed second XI captain with special managerial responsibilities.

Blakey, 36, the senior player on Yorkshire's books, was an almost permanent fixture in the first team until losing his place for a short time last season to reserve wicketkeeper Simon Guy.

Now new director of cricket, David Byas, is anxious to draw on Blakey's vast experience and has decided to put his former colleague in charge of the Colts.

Although Blakey is delighted to have been given the role, he is also at pains to point out that he does not consider his first team days are at an end.

"I am greatly looking forward to the challenge of helping to influence the younger players as they prepare for first-class cricket," said Blakey.

"But I still have aspirations of playing first team cricket for Yorkshire and come next March I will be returning to Headingley and doing everything I can to earn a place in the side.

"I have no injury problems to worry about and I believe I have still got plenty to offer, both as a batsman and behind the stumps."

Yorkshire stated at the end of last summer that Guy would start out behind the stumps next season but Blakey is determined to make him fight for a place.

"It will be good for Simon to be put under pressure because it will keep him on his toes and the rivalry will be good for me, also," said Blakey.

"I have always got on well with David Byas and am looking forward to working alongside him again. We have both got pretty similar ideas on how cricket should be run and we both believe it is essential for there to be good communication between the first and second teams.

"I have always tried to be a good professional and I think I will have the respect of the younger players as I show them the right way of doing things, both on and off the field.

"I want everyone in the second team to prepare themselves properly for when the opportunity comes along for an appearance in the senior side.

"We have lost one or two good players over the past couple of years but we have still not always played to our full potential and if I can get the younger players to do that then I will be on the right track."

Blakey has only occasionally been out of the first team since first winning his place in 1985 and he has scored 14,150 first-class runs and claimed 824 victims behind the stumps.

He successfully led Yorkshire for six weeks when Darren Lehmann returned early to Australia in 2002. As well as captaining them in their only two Championship wins of the season he was also in charge when they beat Somerset in the NatWest Trophy final at Lord's.