For so long the promising young all-rounder in this Yorkshire side, Jordan Thompson is suddenly one of the senior figures in the squad at 27 years of age.

That responsibility is only going to be heightened later this year for the former Pudsey St Lawrence player, once Joe Root, Harry Brook and, for a time, Shan Masood, leave camp due to their international commitments.

Thompson enjoyed a healthy haul of wickets in pre-season, and admits he can see why observers of the Yorkshire side would now consider him as a bowling all-rounder, who can chip in with vital runs in the lower middle order.

The White Rose travel to Gloucestershire today for their second Vitality Championship Division Two game of the season, where Thompson will be looking to put right the figures of 0-58 from 13 overs, and a five-ball duck, he recorded in their league opener against Leicestershire at Headingley earlier this month, which ended in a rain-affected draw.

Speaking to the T&A, Thompson said: “At the start of my career, when I first came into the Yorkshire side, I was probably seen as a more genuine all-rounder.

“I batted a lot higher up and scored runs, but over the last few years, I’ve probably lost a bit of confidence in that side of my game.

“But moving into this season, I’ve worked quite hard on my red-ball batting in the winter, so hopefully I can score more runs consistently and be seen as the genuine all-rounder I’d like to be.

“I’ll play any role I need to in this team though.”

As part of the investigation into racism at the club, Yorkshire were deducted 48 County Championship points partway through last year, kiboshing any realistic hopes of winning the Division Two title.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Jordan Thompson and Yorkshire had to go through the motions a bit in the Championship last season, whereas a title tilt looks far more realistic this season.Jordan Thompson and Yorkshire had to go through the motions a bit in the Championship last season, whereas a title tilt looks far more realistic this season. (Image: Ray Spencer.)

This year is different though, and with Root, Brook and Masood all about for at least five of the opening seven red-ball games, Yorkshire are surely among the favourites for promotion.

Thompson said: “The number one aim is to win the Division Two title.

“We’re in a good position, as a tight-knit group, and we know our target is to get into Division One.

“The first seven games will be massive in shaping the table for August/September, so hopefully we can put in a string of good performances early doors, so we can take a good haul of points into the latter part of the year.”

With the Championship split between the start and end of the season, conditions are not always optimal for red-ball cricket.

But Thompson learnt his craft in tough situations as a youngster with St Lawrence in the Bradford Premier League, with him still drawing on those experiences now several years later.

He said: “It massively helped me because it’s hard, tough cricket in the Bradford League.

“You get a bit of stick from the other teams, so it’s about going in there and trying to score runs and win games for the lads.

“That’s what you take into the professional arena from there, it’s important for people to go there, get experience, learn the basics and find out what makes you tick in a game situation.”

Thompson is part of the 13-strong squad that Yorkshire have selected for the Gloucestershire game, which can be viewed below: