Yorkshire’s second-team coach Tom Smith has urged the county’s younger players to make the absolute most of Harry Brook’s and Joe Root’s presence around Headingley during the first half of this summer.
It has been well documented that Brook and Root are available for five Vitality County Championship matches apiece during the first two months of the campaign. Root will then play in the first half of the T20 Vitality Blast.
Smith, a former all-rounder with Lancashire during his own playing career, knows first hand just how valuable it is take such opportunities to learn.
“I always remember Stuart Law being around at Lancs, and it was a case of, ‘Ask questions, just ask questions’,” said Smith.
“That’s always something I took throughout my career and into my coaching now. Just keep asking questions all the time. That’s something I will be encouraging our young lads to do.
“But that’s the case for all our players, not just the youngsters.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Yorkshire second-team coach Tom Smith.
“We’re lucky at Yorkshire that we’ve got some really good international lads.
“Having Rooty and Brooky around for such a big period of time is amazing – it’s great for the club, for the fans, everyone connected with Yorkshire.
“Having Mala and Shan around us is fantastic as well.”
Smith and his second XI start their summer on Monday with a four-day Championship fixture against Lancashire at Bradford Park Avenue, starting at 11am.
He continued: “Having played in a few Roses games at various levels and having now coached in a few, it still has the same intensity – the white rose and the red rose.
“It’s a really good way to start the season.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Harry Brook chats with guest speaker Sir Andrew Strauss at the Yorkshire’s Opening Season Lunch on Thursday.
“The lads have been in the indoor school pretty much all winter, and they’re just looking forward to getting out there and playing.”
This will be Smith’s third season in charge of the seconds having moved up from working with Leicestershire at the start of 2022.
He added: “Red ball, we did really well in the first season I was here, obviously winning the Championship title.
“We did well in the T20 as well that season, but last year we saw some good progress to reach Finals Day. That was a product of the work we’d done in the winter across the board.
“From the younger guys on staff and into the Academy, that was really good to see.
“The second team changes week by week, but it’s a really good opportunity for guys to go out there and show what they can do.”
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Will Luxton is one such batter who will learn a lot from being around Harry Brook and Joe Root.
