JONNY Tattersall is relishing the prospect of a debut in the Specsavers County Championship against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl tomorrow.

The 23-year-old from Harrogate will take over the wicketkeeping gloves from Andrew Hodd following an encouraging second half of the Royal London One-Day Cup.

Tattersall claimed five catches and a stumping in six appearances and scored two half-centuries, including a career best 89 against the same opponents in yesterday’s semi-final.

His presence in the side caps a notable comeback for the ex-England under 19, who was released by the county in 2015 before returning in 2016 having impressed in second-team, club and Minor Counties cricket.

Tattersall’s first coming as a Yorkshire cricketer saw him make just one first-team appearance.

But now, he looks set for an extended run in all formats.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he said ahead of tomorrow’s floodlit pink ball clash (2pm).

“Hopefully I can continue my form. I’ve been trying to keep things really simple and stick to what I do well. Fingers crossed, it continues to pay off.

“It’s nice to have scored some runs of late for my personal confidence. Hopefully I can take that into four-day cricket and help Yorkshire win some games, which is what it’s all about.”

The White Rose face Hampshire and Surrey, the latter at Scarborough, in the Championship across the next nine days before the break for T20.

“The County Championship is still wide open,” said Tattersall. “If we win these next two games coming up, we’re going to be right up towards the top of the table.

“Without wanting to look too far ahead, it’s a big game against Surrey at Scarborough because they’re up at the top.

“But we’ll concentrate on this one first.

“With the pink ball under lights, it’s going to be a different test that I’ve not come up against before. If we can get a win, it would be fantastic.”

Yorkshire also get an immediate chance to bounce back from yesterday’s RL50 defeat.

Tattersall said: “The lads were really disappointed, and we weren't quite there, but we created some real momentum in the second half of the Royal London.

“Hopefully that can continue and we can get some positive results.”

The move for Tattersall to keep wicket this summer first came around Christmas time, with coach Andrew Gale confident the player could transfer his excellent skills in the field to behind the stumps.

"I did a little bit when I was a junior,” he explained.

“My dad and my brother both kept. My brother played second-team cricket for Yorkshire, so I've always had it in the genes to a degree.

"I've been bowling my spinners throughout my career, but I've never really had a chance in the second team.

"I had a discussion in the winter with the coaching staff and thought 'The way I move in the field, it's not too dissimilar to behind the stumps’.

"To be able to do all aspects of the game, it helps my chances and the team as well. If I can contribute to the team, great. It's a little cheeky career move. If I can help the team out, that's all I'm bothered about.

"I've worked hard on it in the winter and have kept a couple of games for my club side (York) when we've been missing a keeper.

"I've always known how to do the job, but it's a completely different kettle of fish coming into county cricket and having to do it. I'm pleased with how it's gone so far.

"I'm not really (surprised with how well it's gone). I back myself in whatever I do, and I've really enjoyed it.”

But what about the differences between keeping in limited overs cricket to keeping in the first-class game?’

He added: “Sometimes, white ball cricket is harder to keep in because the ball doesn't come to you as much.

“You look at the way James Vince played yesterday. He scored 171 and was finding the middle of the bat quite a lot.

“It can be a little bit more of a surprise when the ball comes through to you.

“There are different challenges. In four-day cricket, guys are looking to occupy the crease more and you feel you’re in the game a lot more because it does more off the pitch and through the air.”

Yorkshire currently sit third bottom in Division One with two wins from five matches.

They are a point above Hampshire, who have played six and won only once.

However, Yorkshire are only 33 behind leaders Somerset having played the same number of games.

If they can win this and beat Surrey, they will be firmly in title contention going into the second half of their campaign.

Hampshire could field current and former South Africa seamers Dale Steyn and Kyle Abbott.

Yorkshire squad: Patterson c, Ballance, Bresnan, Brook, Brooks, Carver, Coad, Leaning, Lees, Lyth, Pujara, Tattersall w, Thompson.