JACK BROOKS admits he is hungry for a place in Yorkshire’s team for Sunday’s LV= County Championship match against Middlesex, but the in-form fast bowler has also conceded that if there was ever a game to miss then one at Lord’s would be it.

The 29-year-old excelled with career-best match figures of 8-112 in this week’s win over Northamptonshire at Headingley, and looks set to play a Championship match at Lord’s for only the second time.

He played in a nine-wicket win for Northants in 2009, but he missed out last year when Yorkshire beat Middlesex by ten wickets.

“I was 13th man last year,” said Brooks. “I did my bowling and training, but I was eating a lot of Lord’s lunches.

“I’ve played one Championship game there, and I’ve been 12th man a couple of times. It’s a good gig to get as 12th or 13th man there.

“I played there with Northants and we won by nine wickets. Last year, Yorkshire won by ten wickets. I haven’t been part of a squad that’s done badly down there.

“It’s always been a good cricket wicket, and I know they’re going to have a strong seam attack. They’ve had a reasonable start to the season, so it should be a good game.

“Ideally I’ll play. But if it’s a game I have to miss out on, I still want to be on the trip.”

Brooks’s comments about the famous Lord’s lunches were made very much tongue in cheek, but his performance at Headingley proved to be no laughing matter for his ex-Northants team-mates.

He contributed heavily to Yorkshire’s first win of a season in which they are seen as title frontrunners.

Middlesex are also expected to be contenders, and it will be a big statement if Yorkshire can win against them at Lord’s for the second year running.

“I think we’re one of a number of teams who can win it. We’ve just got to get some form together and hope maybe a bit of luck goes our way,” said Brooks. “If we can win the big games, maybe come the end of the season we’ll be challenging for the title.

“We know what happened last year when, in the big game, we missed out (Durham at Scarborough). If we’re there and thereabouts at the end of the season, you never know.

“We’ll have to wait and see what England squads come out and which teams miss out on some of their big players.

“But we’re a confident, aggressive side, and we’ll give it a good go.”

Meanwhile, Joe Root scored eight and 61 on his return to action after suffering a broken right thumb playing for England in early March.

He batted at three for Yorkshire’s second XI against Lancashire at Northop Hall in a match which finished yesterday. He hit 61 off 79 balls yesterday, but was caught behind off seamer Tom Bailey.

Lancashire’s bowling attack included former Test bowlers Kyle Jarvis and Kabir Ali. Root is expected to play at Lord’s.