I AM expecting to return to the Yorkshire team for today's Royal London Cup one-day match at Worcestershire – and I can't wait.

I won't hide the fact that the last week has been pretty frustrating, being out of the side with the England lads available.

So I need to take my opportunity now, make a big contribution and hopefully keep my place in my the side. It's in my hands for the rest of the competition in that respect.

I will hopefully be playing in the next two games, at New Road and then at home to Derbyshire on Sunday. My performances will probably shape how the next week or so pans out for me.

The most important thing is that when the opportunity does arise you feel good about your game, which I do.

I played in a 50-over second XI fixture against the MCC Young Cricketers at Merchant Taylors' School near London on Tuesday. Although I didn't get a substantial innings under my belt, I do feel as though I'm hitting the ball nicely.

I scored 175 against the UAE Blues side on pre-season tour in Dubai in my last 50-over knock before that and that was the template for how I want to play in this format.

It shows that you can get very big scores in one-day cricket, as Jonny Bairstow did against Durham at Headingley the other day.

I didn't play too well in one-day cricket last year, so that innings reinforced to me that I still know how to succeed in this format. It was very pleasing and hopefully it helps going into today.

All I can do is trust my own method and be content that I've done everything I need to to be successful. Then, whatever happens, happens.

Three wins from three and top of the group is a fantastic position to be in. The job for us lads coming in is to maintain that momentum and ensure we qualify.

A really good base has been set and it's exciting times. It could be far worse. We could have lost three from three and be coming in to try and turn it around.

But as Andrew Gale has said, Worcester are a really good side and will be no pushovers. It should make for a really entertaining contest.

As we move through the group stages, the new qualification criteria for this competition comes more into focus and it will be interesting to see how it all works with the top team in each group getting a home semi-final.

There are advantages and disadvantages on both sides of the coin. The final group game is on May 16, so if you finish top of the group, your next match is that semi-final a month later on June 16 or 17.

That means it could actually work quite well for the winners of the play-off matches, who will have played a 50-over game earlier in the week and may be on a bit of roll.

On the other hand, an automatic home semi for the group winners does reward playing good cricket for a long period of time, as should be the case.

I didn't see Jonny's 174 against Durham on Wednesday but by all accounts he struck the ball unbelievably well throughout. He's obviously repaid the decision to open the batting with him and good on him.

Fingers crossed he can transfer that kind of form into England colours over the next month or so and get a spot in the team for the Champions Trophy.