Improving on a 68-wicket season is a tough job, but Yorkshire fast bowler Jack Brooks was keen to take on the challenge during the winter.

Brooks, 30, was the county’s standout bowler in 2014 with a club-record haul in the two division era, earning him England Lions recognition after Christmas as a result.

But he knew his game could be even better in 2015.

During Yorkshire’s recent opening round Championship win over Worcestershire, in which Brooks took nine wickets, coach Jason Gillespie revealed how he was aiming to start his spells with venom instead of taking an over or two to find top gear.

And in trying to achieve this, not only has Brooks worked hard with coaches, he has followed Adam Lyth’s lead by talking to sports psychologists.

Ahead of last summer, Lyth sought the help of Yorkshire’s Simon Hartley after an inconsistent three years, and now he is with England in the Caribbean having scored 1,400 Championship runs.

And a similar approach seems to be working for Brooks, who has started this season superbly with 13 wickets in the Worcester win and the draw at Nottinghamshire earlier this week.

“I knew something wasn’t quite right last season. I needed to find a trigger that helps me say ‘right I’m here, I need to be on this from ball one’,” explained Brooks, who took the first of his 13 wickets with his fourth ball of the summer.

“It’s about hitting the ground running rather than easing yourself in.

“I’ve had private chats with coaches and some sports psychologists as well.

“Usually, I use a wicket as a trigger. Wickets, with the release of emotion I get, that really gets the adrenaline going. If I can get that from ball one, all the better.

“I think a lot of it is upstairs rather than physically. I’ve tweaked my pre-match routines in the morning. I’m just trying to focus myself a little bit better.”

Meanwhile, captain Andrew Gale has heaped praise on Yorkshire’s youngsters as they continue to carry the team through a testing period personnel wise.

Not only are the county without the England six in the Caribbean, they have also been dealt a significant injury blow with Ryan Sidebottom out for six weeks due to a calf tear.

Added to this, overseas batsman Aaron Finch, initially due to arrive at the end of the IPL next month, is out for 12 weeks with a torn hamstring.

But the likes of Matt Fisher, Jack Leaning, Alex Lees and Will Rhodes have all impressed at stages during the first two Championship matches.

“We pride ourselves on the Academy and giving our own lads a chance. They’ve got to be good enough, but they’re showing their worth,” said Gale.

“I’m sure there’ll be a few headaches around when players come back.

“Alex has had a great start and Matthew looked like he’d been around for ten years.

“Jack is finding his feet now in first-class cricket. He’s not a rabbit in headlights. He’s getting confidence with every game at this level.

“Will is a good all-round package, although he’s probably batting slightly out of position as an opener. He’s a good fielder, and he’s picking wickets up as well. He’s a good guy to have around.”

Yorkshire’s third match of the season is against Warwickshire at Headingley, starting Sunday.