YORKSHIRE chief executive Mark Arthur has declared the county's new pyramid club structure a roaring success, highlighting Azeem Rafiq and Jonathan Tattersall as examples of why the White Rose team have already benefited.

Arthur was a major player in uniting league cricket within the county for 2016, with four Premier Leagues – Yorkshire Leagues North and South, the North Yorkshire & South Durham and the Bradford League – at the top of the tree.

Pudsey St Lawrence and Wakefield Thornes, winners in Bradford and Yorkshire League South, play off at the Sheikh Zayed International Stadium in Abu Dhabi next week for the title of Yorkshire's best club side.

Arthur says there has been "improved competition" around the leagues this summer as a result of the changes, topped off by Thursday's final in the Gulf.

'We're absolutely delighted with the way the competition has unfolded during the season," he said.

"There's been tremendous cricket played and what's really pleased us is the interaction between the four Premier Leagues.

"A lot of that is with the real-time scoring, when you've not only got the chance to see what's going on in your own league but also in the other three as well. The interest was quite phenomenal.

"We had great competition – improved competition, in our opinion – and at a time when we as a county cricket club have been working hard to forge a closer relationship with all Yorkshire clubs.

"This has enabled us to keep an eye on a number of players of interest. The door is never closed – and we've seen that with Azeem Rafiq this year.

"He performed really well for Sheffield and Phoenix and he was then invited to come and play some second-team cricket with us. On the back of that, he got into the first team and won his county cap.

"There's a classic case showing how important it is for us to have a close relationship with the elite of Yorkshire club cricket.

"Jonathan Tattersall is another example. He was released last year from Yorkshire and he's gone and got a lot of runs for Harrogate. At the end of the season, he came back and played some second-team cricket and scored a hundred.

"Everybody develops at a different stage and it shows there's still a second chance; even a first chance.

"James Middlebrook was another who came out of the leagues to play for us a couple of years ago and won a County Championship medal.

"I think it's really important that the standard of club cricket in Yorkshire is as high as it can possibly be."

Pudsey and Wakefield will spend a week in Abu Dhabi training and playing a warm-up match apiece against local opposition ahead of Thursday's final.

"As a club cricketer, I don't think you could ask for much more," said Arthur, who revealed that finance through sponsorship will be needed if the Abu Dhabi final is to be replicated next year.

"I hope all the cricketers and supporters have a wonderful experience and as a result Yorkshire cricket will be stronger.

"This year has been financed by the club and the county board. We will not be able to do that next year without external help because it is very expensive.

"If we don't get external help in the form of sponsorship, the final will probably take place at Headingley. If we do, we'd love to repeat the exercise, but we've got to be practical."