Azeem Rafiq, fresh from a productive first half of the winter in Pakistan, is targeting improved consistency with the red ball in 2018.

That is one aim for the Yorkshire off-spinner, who is also hoping and confident that the county will end their search for limited overs silverware.

Yorkshire’s failure to qualify out of the NatWest T20 Blast group stage was a huge disappointment in 2017.

And Rafiq believes Kane Williamson’s overseas return to Emerald Headingley for eleven Blast matches – he will also play four Championship fixtures – will be key to that pursuit.

“I went over to Pakistan and spent a little bit of time with the family,” said Rafiq, who did some work with former Pakistan international Atiq-uz-Zaman. “I did all my training over there.

“But it was nice to get back here, really exciting.

“I did a couple of sessions just before Christmas and started back yesterday. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the winter and summer.

“The hard work pretty much started following the last day of last season.

“Everyone’s very determined to put things right. That’s the aim.”

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