Jack Brooks made his mark in pre-season training with Northamptonshire, but now he is determined to shine on the field.

The 24-year-old seamer joined Northants on a one-year contract in the autumn following an impressive season for Oxford and Oxfordshire.

And Brooks appears to have taken professional cricket in his stride.

“It was a lot easier than I thought as my fitness was so good,” he said.

“I have been coming out on top in the bleep tests.

“I’m driving myself on and my fitness is going through the roof.

“I have also been doing pilates twice a week, which is really quite good for your flexibility.”

Northants’ LV County Championship Division 2 campaign started against Leicestershire at Grace Road yesterday.

And Brooks, who began his career with Tiddington, hopes to seize his chance at some point this season.

“I will get opportunities, and when they come up I’ve got to be good enough to take them,” said Brooks “I am not going to get down if I don’t make it straight away.”

“As this is my first season, I just want to be fit for the whole campaign, and after that to play as many first team matches as possible.”

As for his prospects, Brooks said: “I don’t know what our first team will be.

“There are seven seamers going for about four spots.

“There is really not a lot to pick and choose between us at the moment.

“The two older Kolpak players will probably be the first choice, and then it is two from five.”

Brooks is living in Northampton with Ireland wicket-keeper Niall O’Brien – one of the stars of the 2007 World Cup after making 72 in their shock defeat of Pakistan.

As they are just five minutes from the ground, Brooks has no excuse to be late!

He said: “It is what I want to do.

“I can’t imagine doing anything I would like better.”

The acid test for Brooks’s skills is about to come, but he belives he has already made progress.

He said: “From when I started batting just before Christmas, there has been a massive improvement.

“Bowling wise, I’ve made a couple of little adjustments.

“Since no opponent knows anything about me, that first season can work in my favour.”

Brooks will still retain his cricketing links in Oxfordshire, but if all goes well, he should not be playing in the county too much.

“I believe Oxfordshire are still signing me on, but I’m not sure I will play that much for them,” he said.

“The only reason I would play is if I was struggling to get some cricket.

“Oxford have still got me signed up and I can play for them as they are not too far away.”

Cricket has always been Brooks’s No 1 sport – and now he has the chance to make cricket his long-term career.