EVERYBODY knows that we’re out of the NatWest T20 Blast, and that we haven’t performed as we should have done considering the talent of the players we’ve got in our squad at Yorkshire.

But at least games like Friday’s at Northants gave the young lads some valuable match time.

I think the average age of that side was 22 and you could see how well they adapted in what was a big-match atmosphere.

In fact, it was probably our more experienced players who didn’t perform as well as they might have liked in defeat.

The young lads didn’t look out of place but I think that’s the great thing about Yorkshire’s Academy. Lads come in and they're up for it, they do well and their skills are normally there or thereabouts alongside the other members of the team.

We’ve got the 50-over competition coming up starting at the weekend and I’m sure there’ll be opportunities for some of the youngsters there as well.

We’ve been hit-and-miss in white-ball cricket so far but the aim is to hit the ground running in the 50-over competition because there are still two trophies to play for.

We’re in an ideal position in the Championship and we had an outstanding win against Warwickshire in our last match.

Ryan Sidebottom and Jonny Bairstow are firing at the minute and we were all relishing the start of this week’s match against Worcestershire at Scarborough yesterday.

I couldn’t wait to get started there because I feel that I’m just starting to hit the ball nicely again and I’m hoping to come into my own and be consistent until the end of the season.

It’s been frustrating because I’ve been hitting the ball well all year and then just finding ways of getting out.

I do understand that as a young cricketer you are going to have seasons when you don’t blaze it to all parts and average 50 but I just hope that by the end of the season I’m up there with a few hundreds.

Scarborough is arguably the best cricket wicket in the country.

It’s got pace and bounce and you get full value for your shots. But bowlers are always in the game and there’s also a bit of a family feel because the lads’ wives and girlfriends come up for the games.

I just love batting there, and fingers crossed I can get a few.

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