WILL FRAINE is targeting success against the red ball with Yorkshire this summer, and believes a more relaxed attitude will be key for him.

Fraine has travelled to Dubai for the county’s pre-season tour, hot on the heels of a profitable four-game first-class spell in Zimbabwe through January and February, when he played for the Eagles team.

The 25-year-old posted scores of 45, 88 and 85 in his favoured opener’s position, giving him confidence that his game is in good order as he bids to marry LV= Insurance County Championship form with his excellent recent displays in T20 and one-day cricket.

“It was terrific,” he said of his African adventure. “The guys were really friendly, the coaches were good, the facilities great.

“To be able to get time in the middle over those four games, at that time of year, was priceless. There’s no substitute for getting out in the middle.

“I’ve tweaked a lot of things in my game, new movements and such, to get back to basics really. And it went well.

“Over there, where there’s not as much lateral movement in the pitches, it’s more about the concentration element of trying to bat for a long time. Hopefully it stands me in good stead for the start of the year.

“The last couple of years have been a bit more white ball positive for me. I think it’s the side of the game which I’m more natural at. But I love red ball cricket.

“I had that run in 2019 of eight games, and I was pretty solid.

“I got that hundred against Surrey at Scarborough, but around that I got a lot of starts - thirties, forties - which I should have kicked on from. But I showed myself and the coaches that I can be valued at the top of the order. Then, after my knee injury, there wasn’t really a space.

“I averaged 75 last year and got hundreds, and the trip to Zimbabwe was so good because it showed me that I have got a template for success again. I am confident in my defence, which I perhaps wasn’t last year in the first team.

“I probably let myself down a bit. But, hopefully, I can show my value to the red ball side over the next couple of years as well as kicking on against the white ball and becoming a top player in those formats.”