JACK BROOKS COLUMN

Another two weeks into the season and my body is beginning to get slightly more stiff, sore and tired.

As things have been going well and I’m bowling as well as I ever have, I keep getting wheeled out every game so I’m finding a way to stay on the park and keep riding the crest of the wave.

You never know when a bad game is around the corner or when you’ll lose form, so you have to make the most of the good times and try to fill ya boots.

A tough Roses encounter in front of a whopping crowd was ruined by rain and ended in a tame draw.

We then gave Derbyshire a hiding for our first T20 win and this week we beat Northants to go back to the top of the league – momentarily at least.

The thing about continually playing and bowling lots of overs is I am left drained on a day off.

I am told not to train to keep my strength up, which is difficult for me as I like to keep working on my skills and get back in the gym to keep topping up.

I’m having to find a happy medium which seems to be working at present.

The downside is that I haven’t had too much of a social life with games on Fridays and Sundays, so my alcohol intake has been less – which I suppose is a good thing . . .

Aaron Finch arrived with us last week and will spend the next seven weeks playing all forms of cricket for Yorkshire to replace Kane Williamson whilst he tours West Indies with New Zealand.

Aaron comes over here with a stunning hard-hitting destructive reputation as the world No 1 T20 batsman.

The whole club is excited about what impact the Aussie may have on some games for us.

All being well, he wins a few T20 matches off his own back and contributes for us in Championship cricket, where he himself is looking to improve his own game.

He is a great bloke to have around with the typical Australian confident approach to life and cricket.

He’s not shy of making himself heard with good advice and wisdom or a hard joke and mickey-taking.

I have no doubts the team will learn from him and his attitude and take bits of his game into our own.

As I sit writing this, it’s my birthday and I can't quite believe I’m 30.

It’s ridiculous as I still feel like a young lad.

Although the body aches a bit more and my hair is longer than ever, I have shown no signs of growing up!

Hopefully I can keep living my dream and have loads of fun along the way.