JACK Brooks admits he feels fitter than ever ahead of his bid to continue a dream spell at Yorkshire with an historic third Specsavers County Championship title.

New-ball quick Brooks says things could hardly have gone better since moving from Northamptonshire ahead of 2013.

But he is determined to ensure there is no let up in, first of all, team and then personal success this summer.

The self-proclaimed "ageing seamer", at 31 years old, spent just over two months in Perth playing first-grade cricket for Willetton from early January to early March with the aim to best prepare for an assault on a hat-trick of Division One crowns.

And, after insisting he is in the best shape he has ever been in physically, the signs are good.

Yesterday he led the way with three wickets during the opening day of Yorkshire's three-day friendly against Leeds-Bradford MCC Universities at Headingley.

The students reached 225-8 from 74.4 overs before bad light prevented play beyond 4.45pm.

After bowling Steve Bullen, he completed a smart diving return catch to get rid of Billy Root to leave the students at 11-2.

He later returned to trap Liam Watkinson lbw and finished with 3-36 from 13 overs.

"The winter before this was a lot more cricket orientated with the England Lions," he said.

"But I was playing once and training twice a week in Perth, which gave me a lot of time to do my own fitness work.

"I've come back feeling as fit as I ever have done.

"I just know how to look after myself these days. I can tell I'm in good shape by the fitness results.

"Hopefully my body, which has been pretty consistent since I've been at Yorkshire, hangs together as an ageing seamer now."

Since arriving at Yorkshire, Brooks has returned an exceptional 167 wickets in 41 Championship matches.

"When I first turned pro in 2009, I thought it may only be a year in the game, so I would just enjoy it," he said.

"From leaving Northants, I wanted to go to a team who could challenge for the Championship. If I wasn't going to play for England, I wanted to win trophies.

"I've been very lucky that since coming to Yorkshire, we've finished second, first and first.

"Everything about the move has been brilliant. I couldn't have asked for much more.

"A bit more success with the one-day form, maybe, but I don't want to be too greedy.

"If someone had said 'you're going to move clubs and win two Championships', I'd have bitten their hand off.

"Contributing personally has been the icing on the cake because I've never been one to crave individual success.

"I'm very excited about the possibilities of what could happen this year. Obviously our simple process remains – take one day at a time, but the carrot of three in a row will always be there for this season."

Karl Carver also took three wickets. He trapped Christian Davis lbw, bowled Ash Gowers and had Alex Lilley caught at mid-wicket to finish with 3-58 from 17.4 overs.

Opener Henry Thompson hit 64 and Bradford-born Logan Weston, who plays for Woodlands in the All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League, 68 not out.

This is a non first-class match because only the first two of three fixtures for each university side are registered as first-class.