REWIND a couple of years and I would say the opening night of the 2015 NatWest T20 Blast against Derbyshire at Headingley, when I took five wickets on debut, is the best day of my career to date.

I was still at school at Easingwold. I rocked up having spent the day at school, it was our first-ever home game under the new lights and it went like a dream.

Looking back at it now, it was just me being really young, enthusiastic and having no real care in the world. It was just like going to play in the evening league for your club.

I was nervous for the first few overs when I was fielding but I had no fear when I came on to bowl. As soon as I got into the game, it switched me on.

I knew the crowd was there but I was just focused purely on where I wanted to bowl and my plans.

I don't think you'll get in that zone too many times in your career but it was just lucky that I got into it in my very first T20 game.

It's proving to the older lads that you are good enough. From that night on, I think I gained the respect of all the lads in the squad.

The whole campaign went well for me that year. I was our leading wicket-taker with 16, including that 5-22, and I am certainly going to draw back on those memories ahead of this season.

I can use that experience, as well as what I gained in the Royal London Cup earlier this summer, to improve and hopefully be successful.

I will need to step up again because T20 has evolved quite dramatically, even from my first season in 2015.

I actually think T20 can be an easier format to bowl in because batsmen are coming at you almost every ball, opening up the opportunity for wickets.

I believe I'm quite good at judging what they're going to do and can adjust quite late.

I'm looking forward to the big crowds again and contributing to some more wins, hopefully starting against Notts at Headingley on Friday.

When I talk about getting into the zone and it not happening too often in your career, I do think there are ways of working on that kind of thing – and that is something I am trying to learn about.

I think school helped my cricket in some ways. It was a good way to take my mind off the game.

When cricket's your only focus, I can feel as if you're thinking about it all on your days off and maybe you can overthink things. When I was at school, that was the priority.

A lot of people do struggle with their cricket during the exams and things like that but I found it okay.

The buzz of the crowd can also get you into the zone because you are aware that if you do anything wrong, they could be on to you and you want the ground to swallow you up. When I have that pressure, I feel like I get the best out of myself.

One thing I was never able to do when I was at school and playing for Yorkshire was to get too big for my boots. I'm quite lucky that my schoolmates kept me pretty grounded. I certainly got a lot more stick from them than I do in the Yorkshire dressing room.

I feel like I've got a good family and friendship group around me who will support me through the good and bad stuff.

I have a couple of best mates and one of them isn't really into cricket. He'll come and watch but he doesn't know a great deal about the game. When we go out, we'll chat about other stuff, which is great. That helps me switch off.

My other mate, he's right into cricket and it's a really nice balance to have.

With my mate who's into cricket, I often find myself thinking 'I need to pinch myself here' because he's asking all about what it's like to be around such and such. I then go into my soppy mode.

When I'm around the lads, I can't really act like they're my heroes. When I'm with my mate, Tom, I come across more starstruck. But day in and day out, it's becoming more and more real for me now.

Our squad for the Blast looks ridiculously strong. Sometimes that doesn't necessarily work in our favour because teams view our game as their biggest of the competition. They always want to beat Yorkshire.

I've found that in all formats, to be fair – but I'm quite looking forward to every game being a big game.

The two Roses matches are always the best of the season. We need to be wary of everyone but Notts, like Lancashire and Durham, will be a big threat.

In the South Group, I don't think you can look past Surrey. Their top four looks good, as well as their bowling.

I also think Hampshire will do well, especially with their spinners. Mason Crane looks a really good bowler. Their batting looks good as well with James Vince in there.

It should be a really good competition this year and I can't wait.