JACK Brooks will stick to what has made him a county cricket star as he attempts to impress national selectors while on England Lions duty this winter.

The seamer, from Tiddington, is in South Africa for a training camp, after being picked for both the provisional first-class and 50-over squads to face the Proteas’ A-team in the new year.

It is recognition for Brooks’s excellent season, which saw him take 68 wickets to help Yorkshire win the LV= County Championship title.

And the 30-year-old will go with what he knows in a bid to make the most of the call-up.

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He said: “The higher the standard you go, it’s a lot more mental and you’ve got to try and stay relaxed and have that small process which you know you’ve been successful with, which has worked at Yorkshire.

“I won’t get too different from that and hopefully it will work at the next level as well.”

The former Oxfordshire bowler has featured for the Lions before, touring Bangla-desh, Sri Lanka and the UAE in 2012, before taking six wickets against the West Indies at Northampton later in the year.

But while he saw those selections as more of an end in themselves, Brooks views this tour as a chance to get into the shop window for the very highest level.

“Last time it was a bit of a novelty and I thought ‘this could be my only chance of being involved’,” he said.

“This time I’ve been around the block and I’m used to training and playing with England guys, having that exposure.

“I’m a lot more relaxed, I’ve still got the drive and I genuinely believe this time I’m good enough to play international cricket, whereas before I maybe said it with that bit of doubt.

“I’ve got the performances now to look back on, particularly from this year, that (makes me think) I’m good enough.

“Hopefully the selectors will see something special in me.”

On top of being in the form of his life, Brooks is also boosted by what he sees as greater opportunities within the England set-up.

He said: “When I was last involved three years ago, England were very good and they were the best in the world.

“I struggled to see how I would fit into the team and oust some of the really good bowlers.

“This time they are rebuilding and there’s a lot of spaces.

“A few good performances in the right place at the right time, you never know.”

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