Yorkshire youngster James Lee says he has got to be ready to take his first team chance when it arises.

The 21-year-old former England under-19s pace bowler is one of a handful of seamers looking to take advantage of the departures of Darren Gough, Matthew Hoggard and Deon Kruis in the last two years.

He said: “There are a couple of us lads who are vying to be the next in line.

“Big Oliver (Hannon-Dalby), myself, Ben Sanderson and Steve Patterson are all chomping at the bit for possibly one spot.

“I need to be ready to take my chance when it comes.

“Everything can change around so quickly in professional sport. One five-for and somebody is favourite for the spot.

“I’ll be giving 100 per cent every time I take the field. Hopefully that will be enough to secure my place.”

Lee, who has six England under- 19s caps under his belt, has been talked about for first team ever since making his debut as a 17 year-old in a Roses match at Old Trafford in 2006.

But he has only played two first-class matches – the second being against Somerset at Taunton last summer where he took two wickets.

Born in Sheffield, he made his bow in the same side as the likes of ex-Australian Test duo Jason Gillespie and Darren Lehmann and new White Rose assistant coach Craig White.

He remembered: “There were so many injuries around at that time.

“I had just got a five-for on my debut in the seconds, and they just threw me in there. I loved being around the players I was that day.

“Hopefully that experience will have helped me when I break into the side.”

Lee’s second appearance came in the infamous Championship match in July of last year when Peter Trego helped the hosts to chase down 476 on the last day at Taunton.

A bowling attack including Ajmal Shahzad, Lee, Patterson and off-spinner Azeem Rafiq was a taster of what we could see more of in 2010.

Hopefully, they are better prepared to shine now than they were then.

Lee added: “I couldn’t be happier with the way the squad’s moved around this winter.

“There has been a lot of trust put in us by the coaching staff.

“It will be good for the future of Yorkshire to have lads of 21 years old playing regular first team cricket.”