Brooks: Why I had to sign for Yorkshire

By Graham Hardcastle

Jack Brooks, the 28-year-old England Lions fast bowler, believes he has taken on one of the biggest challenges in county cricket by opting to sign a three-year contract with Division One newcomers Yorkshire.

When he made it clear he would be leaving Northamptonshire ahead of 2013 midway through the most recent summer, Brooks had counties queueing up for his signature pretty much in identical fashion to James Harris. And he ended up having to compile a list of pros and cons to help him decide where he would call his new home, with the White Rose county obviously coming out on top.

"I decided to leave Northants during last summer, but I literally had no idea where I was going to end up," he explained. "I think in the end there was possibly a dozen counties who definitely showed interest. I whittled that down to five or six. Then it came down to a straight choice between the last couple. I ended up having to do a list of pros and cons, and there were so many pros with Yorkshire.

"There was interest there from Yorkshire and a few teams at the end of the season before, but I just felt that it would be best for my cricket if I led the attack at Northants for another year, especially having just got in the England Lions set-up. But the season didn't go so well. Northants struggled to win games, my performances weren't so great and injuries crept in probably because I over-bowled.

"I was just looking for a fresh challenge really. I don't think there's any bigger challenges out there than playing for Yorkshire, especially as a non-Yorkshireman. They are clearly the most decorated county in England and the best supported. Getting the opportunity to play my cricket at a Test ground was another big draw."

One of those pros was the chance to win the LV= County Championship title in Yorkshire’s 150th anniversary year. Echoing fellow new signing and Leeds housemate Liam Plunkett’s comments last week, Brooks added: "I think we've got a great shout this season.

“It's a very competitive league, a tough one to win. But you only have to look at the options that we have in our squad to know that we've got every chance. There's a great balance of youth, experience, proven internationals and guys like myself and Liam Plunkett who have joined and have to prove ourselves afresh.

“I know from speaking to the lads that everybody's pretty confident of being in with a chance of winning a trophy in the next year or two."

Date: 20/12/2012 11:00:00 by Graham Hardcastle
In: Yorkshire | Today | Northamptonshire |