After revealing that Yorkshire came top of his pros and cons list when deciding to leave Northamptonshire, new signing Jack Brooks is confident the club can challenge to top the most important list of all in county cricket next summer.

The England Lions fast bowler was not short of options when he made his intentions to leave Wantage Road clear midway through last summer.

Along with Middlesex-bound James Harris, he was one of the most sought after players in county cricket during the early stages of the close season.

He has arrived at Headingley with a number of goals. One is to break into international cricket, and another is to help the White Rose win the LV= County Championship.

“I think we’ve got a great shout,” said the Oxford-born 28-year-old.

“It’s a very competitive league, a tough one to win, but you only have to look at the options 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.

“There are some very strong sides in Division One but 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.”

Yorkshire had pursued Brooks since midway through 2011, and their patience with a player who was still playing village cricket at the age of 20 has now paid off.

“I was looking leave to Northants during last summer but I had no idea where I was going to end up,” he said.

“I think 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 from Yorkshire and a few teams at the end of the season before but I just felt it would be best for my cricket if I led the attack at Northants for another year.

“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 and I don’t think there are any bigger challenges out there than playing for Yorkshire, especially as a non-Yorkshireman.

“They are clearly the most decorated county and the best supported.”