WILL FRAINE is adamant that he has broken into a Yorkshire team on the up.

The Huddersfield-born opening batsman made his first-class debut for the White Rose in last week’s Specsavers County Championship draw against Essex at Emerald Headingley, scoring 39 and nought.

Fraine, 22, replaced out-of-form Harry Brook at the top of the order and is set for a decent run in the side alongside Adam Lyth, continuing with champions Surrey at Guildford from Monday and then Warwickshire at York the following week.

Having signed from Nottinghamshire at the start of the winter on a three-year contract, Fraine has praised the Yorkshire hierarchy for their management of him as a player, allowing him to start in the second team and build confidence with two hundreds and three fifties.

“Every time is a great time to get into the side, but the lads are clearly up and running and are aiming high,” said the former Durham MCC Universities captain.

“In the dressing room, we’re looking at the top end of the table.

“The cricket we’re playing, there’s no reason why we can’t challenge for that title come the end of the year.

“It’s nice to get the backing. It shows that if you do well in the twos, Galey will back you and give you a go.

“I wasn’t sure whether I was going to play or not, but I was really pleased to be out there.

“I’m happy with the way I’ve started the summer.

“I’ve trained really hard and have been put through my paces having come here. I needed to get up to speed with all the lads because we have a very good squad.

“I’m really pleased with how I’ve been batting, so to get the call-up a bit sooner than I would have thought is really promising.

“I think the club have handled me really well as a player. The coaches have got to know who I am as a player and a bloke really well.

“Paul Grayson getting appointed as batting coach was great for me because he’s someone who knows my game inside out (from Durham Uni). He knows when I’m playing well and what I need.

“Allowing me to get some scores in the twos and get my confidence up was quite important before coming up to this level because it’s a big step up. The occasion and the opposition is a lot bigger and better.

“I’ve settled in really well and feel very at home here.”

In the first innings against Essex, Fraine and Lyth shared in a partnership of 77 - Yorkshire’s highest opening stand in a little over a year of Division One cricket.

In the second, on the final day, he was out for a seven-ball duck.

“It was nice to spend a bit of time out in the middle in the first innings,” he reflected.

“I felt pretty relaxed and pretty solid against two good opening bowlers. Jamie Porter has been around a bit now and has done really well, and I know Sam Cook really well from the Uni stuff. He’s a good bowler.

“I felt like I handled it well and didn’t let the occasion get into my mind. Lythy was good in helping me stay calm and enjoy it.”

Yorkshire remain third in Division One behind Hampshire and leaders Somerset, who stretched the gap between themselves and the White Rose to 25 points by beating Surrey at Guildford last week.

Yorkshire have won two and drawn three, while Surrey have lost two and drawn three.