Liam Plunkett believes Yorkshire have the best bowling attack in county cricket after joining Jack Brooks in signing a three-year contract at Headingley.

The former Durham bowler is also aiming to add to his nine Test matches, 21 one-day internationals and one Twenty20 international for England, the last of which came in early 2011.

The 27-year-old, who is ten months younger than fellow paceman Brooks, has endured a difficult two years with Durham having fallen down the pecking order due to a loss of form and confidence.

But the prospect of working with Yorkshire’s director of professional cricket Martyn Moxon for a second time, as well as first-team coach Jason Gillespie, excites him.

“I am delighted to be joining Yorkshire for next season,” said the Middlesbrough-born player.

“I felt the time was right for a new challenge in my career, and the opportunity to join one of the biggest clubs in the country was too good to turn down.

“Martyn Moxon was head coach at Durham when I made my debut for the county, and also when I made my England debut. The opportunity to work under him again, and also under Jason Gillespie, is very exciting.

“The club has had a strong 2012, and I believe adding myself and Jack Brooks to the current squad will give us the best bowling attack in the country and help propel us towards silverware in 2013.

“I have been fortunate enough to represent my country as recently as last year, and there is no doubt I want to pull on an England shirt again.

“I strongly believe I have what it takes to play at the highest level again, and I feel Yorkshire is the best environment to help me achieve this.”

Plunkett has taken 321 wickets and scored 2,645 runs in 107 first-class matches, including eight five-wicket hauls and one century.

He has also taken 139 wickets and scored 945 runs in 118 List ‘A’ matches and taken 45 wickets and scored 345 runs in 63 Twenty20 appearances.

He only played 15 times in all forms of first-team cricket for Durham in 2012, including once in the Championship.

Despite this, Moxon echoed his new recruit’s belief that a return to the international arena is not out of the question.

Moxon added: “I know Liam well from my time in Durham. A wholehearted cricketer with considerable talent, he brings experience and quality to the Yorkshire side as we head back to the first division of the LV= County Championship.

“He has what it takes to regain a place in the England side. He is still only 27, and I’m sure Yorkshire can further assist his development and help him achieve his ambitions within the game. I look forward to working with him again.”

Strengthening their pace bowling attack has been an aim for the Yorkshire hierarchy for the last two to three years, and now that job is complete, aside from the addition of Mitchell Starc if he were to become available for Twenty20.

Plunkett and Brooks will provide competition for Ryan Sidebottom, Moin Ashraf and Steve Patterson, while the likes of Iain Wardlaw and Oliver Hannon-Dalby are also waiting in the wings.

The pair of new signings did not travel to South Africa yesterday for Yorkshire’s forthcoming Champions League t20 campaign.