STEVE PATTERSON is hoping Harry Brook, Will Fraine and some more of Yorkshire’s young guns can grasp the opportunity that comes with increased exposure in this summer’s Royal London one-day Cup, writes Graham Hardcastle for Yorkshire CCC.

Club captain Patterson will lead the Vikings in the 50-over Cup, which clashes with the new Hundred competition.

That means all counties will be minus some star names, opening up opportunities for youngsters to shine on the first-team stage. Yorkshire haven’t been as heavily affected by Hundred call-ups as others, but they still have gaps to plug.

“The only side which hurts us is that the lads who have been called up are all top order batters,” said Patterson.

“We’ve brought Dawid Malan in, but he won’t play 50-over cricket because he’s playing in the Hundred. Adam Lyth, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Dave Willey all bat up there as well and won’t be available.

"There are four lads who would bat in our top four or five.

“But 50-over cricket this year is a real opportunity for a number of reasons.

“Some teams have lost a heavy amount of players, so there’s certainly a lot of teams who will be weaker than us. It’s an opportunity for a number of younger lads to stick their hands up.”

Former England Under-19s captain Brook, 21, has been around the first team for two seasons and has shown glimpses of significant promise. He scored his maiden first-class hundred in the home Championship win over Surrey.

Fraine, 23, also encouraged at the top of the order in the Championship during his first year with the club in 2019.

“Harry probably hasn’t had as much opportunity in white ball cricket as he’d like, but he can stand up and dominate in that format, similar to a Tom Banton at Somerset,” Patterson added. "He’s got the opportunity and has repaid them with his performances.

“Will didn’t really get an opportunity in white ball cricket last year, but he showed in the Championship what he’s capable of."