ANDREW Gale reckons Jordan Thompson can add some Pyrah-technics to Yorkshire’s first team.

The 21-year-old all-rounder has made an encouraging step up from the second-team in the last three weeks, playing a quartet of Vitality Blast matches.

Thompson has taken six wickets with his seamers, claimed four catches and scored 13 runs in two innings down the order, impressing his coach.

“Jordan’s done really well,” said Gale.

“He reminds me of how Rich Pyrah used to be.

“He performs that role well through the middle with really good skills and is an excellent fielder. We haven't seen the best of his batting yet, but he can clear the ropes at the death.

“I’m really pleased with the way he’s gone. He’s come in and taken his opportunity. That’s what we want from young lads.”

Academy product Thompson, who plays for Pudsey St Lawrence in the Bradford League, has enjoyed a productive summer in second-team cricket, scoring 851 runs and taking 27 wickets in all forms.

“I’ve done pretty well in the second team this season,” said Thompson, who is a type one diabetic.

“I’ve scored quite a few runs and am a bit of a hard-hitting player in the white ball stuff.

“I’ve batted quite a long time in the red ball stuff, and I aim to be part of the four seamers, especially in the white ball stuff with my slower balls and death bowling, which you haven't quite seen from me yet.

“My aim is to play in all three forms, and I’ve done that in the second team.

“It’s a hard team to get into in the four-day stuff, and you’ve got to score big runs.

“At the moment, I’m averaging ok. I’ve scored fifties, but I haven’t scored a hundred. That’s the one thing I’m looking for. Hopefully, towards the end of the season, I can push for a place.”

While Thompson admits it is a disappointment to see Liam Plunkett leaving Emerald Headingley at the end of the season, given he has learnt a lot from the England all-rounder, he accepts it heightens his own chances of further opportunity.

Thompson was diagnosed with diabetes aged 16 and carries the logo of Diabetes UK on the back of his Gunn and Moore bat.

He added: “I was diagnosed as a type one diabetic in September 2013, so nearly five years ago now. I was on the Academy at the time, and it was quite shocking.

“When I first went to hospital, I thought ‘I’m not going to play cricket again’. But, luckily for me, I got back into it.

“I tried to put that to one side and focus on cricket.

“The main symptoms are losing weight, urinating a lot, drinking a lot and eating more sugar than you think.

“I was actually at school one day and remember going to the shop and buying two cans of coke, a chocolate bar and a bag of crisps and eating and drinking them within five minutes.

“My body was tired and needed sugar, but my sugar levels were going through the roof.”

“I’ve obviously got to look after it as well as I can. If I didn’t do that, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”