Jack Brooks says he is more than happy with his progress after becoming a mainstay of the Northants attack.

The former Oxford and Tiddington paceman was named man-of-the-match after his 3-24 helped Northants defeat Yorkshire in Sunday’s Friends Provident Twenty20 clash.

This followed on from a number of impressive displays since Brooks broke into the team at the start of the season.

“I’m pretty pleased with how it’s gone, especially coming straight in and opening the bowling,” said Brooks.

“It has been brilliant. I have put a lot of effort in over the last couple of years.

“I had a bit more ability than I realised and that is being tapped into.”

Brooks, 26, started the season in Northants’ LV County Championship side and was handed the new ball despite his inexperience.

“There was a little bit of added pressure, but I think I dealt with it really well,” said Brooks.

“I think most of my success is down to the strong winter I had in Australia. I was ready straight away.”

When Northants signed Sri Lankan Test star Chaminda Vaas last month, you wondered if Brooks might be see his opportunities limited.

But the pair have been opening the bowling together.

“He has been absolutely brilliant for me and all the younger guys,” said Brooks.

“He is quite quiet, but when he does say something you really take it in.”

As for the transition from club cricket to playing alongside Test stars, he added: “It has been absolutely brilliant, but I have not really thought about it.”

“The coaches didn’t want to put too much pressure on me.

“Age-wise, I am not young, but in term of experience, I’m a bit of a rookie.

“The opposition don’t know that much about me.

“I am on target for what I set myself, but I am still looking to get more wickets.

“The coaches said if you are looking to take three wickets a game, you are going in the right direction. I’m pretty much bang on for that.”

Brooks is now Northants’ strike bowler in four-day matches, but said his Twenty20 call-up was a surprise.

“It was a bit of an eye-opener for me. I wasn’t expecting to play that much with the players we had,” said Brooks.

“I have been thrown into it. I played in the first game against Warwickshire when Darren Maddy was teeing off.

“I have come back strongly with the last two games and have got used to the atmosphere. You don’t have time to rest at all.

“One day you are going to pick up a couple of wickets and others you will go for runs, even when you bowl well.”

One thing Brooks has not lacked this summer is pace.

“In a televised game, I was clocked at 87-88 mph,” he said.

“I am definitely the quickest on the staff.

“I was probably bowling in the low 80s before.

“But when you get more used to bowling and build up your body, you can get faster.

“I still think I can get up into the 90s, but that’s not the main thing. It is more about accuracy.”