Harry Brook is aiming to dig in for Yorkshire this summer as he looks to build on an encouraging start to his first-class career.

The former England under-19s captain from Burley-in-Wharfedale admits his main aim during a winter spent playing grade cricket in Australia was to improve the patience side of his game.

Brook played for the University of New South Wales club in Sydney, scoring 1,001 runs across 21 innings in two-day, one-day and T20 cricket, including a best of 100 not out.

The 20-year-old batsman would love to break through the 1,000-run barrier in this summer’s County Championship, but knows he must rein in his swashbuckling style at certain times.

Last season, Brook scored 575 runs from 12 Championship appearances, the standout innings being a sparkling 124 in the second innings of an early season win over defending champions Essex at Chelmsford.

Brook has returned to Yorkshire duty from Sydney and is with his team-mates in Potchefstroom, where they are spending a fortnight on pre-season tour.

“I loved every minute of it (Sydney),” he said.

“To be able to play through the winter and get more experience out there on different pitches and against different players was really good.

“We did well up until Christmas, my team, but then we struggled afterwards a bit. In fact, they haven’t won a game since Christmas.

“I felt good at the crease. I felt I batted really well.

“The whole point of going out there was to try and improve and get better as a cricketer and a bloke as well.”

On his approach to batting, Brook said: “One of my main aims going out to Australia was to improve my patience.

“There was one example in a game against Manly. I scored four runs in an hour, which I was happy with.

“I think I’ve come back a more patient cricketer.

“Last year I was playing too many shots at stages and getting out in bad situations when the team wasn’t needing it. That’s another thing I tried to improve, looking at game situations and scenarios and thinking what’s best for the team.”

Brook opened the batting for the vast majority of the Division One campaign and is hopeful of retaining that position alongside Adam Lyth when Yorkshire begin this summer against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on April 5.

“I want to open the batting,” he added. “Whether that happens or not, we’ll see.

“But, yes, I really want to open the batting.”