Jack Brooks is chomping at the bit to get his Yorkshire playing career underway.

The ex-Northamptonshire fast bowler, currently in the final throws of his recovery from a nagging Achilles injury, was confident this week’s county training camp in Sri Lanka would see him back to full fitness.

Then it is all about his White Rose debut – albeit not competitive – on their pre-season tour of Barbados in March, something which he believes can be a springboard for team success in 2013 and beyond.

“I’ve been really excited for this season ever since I signed on the line here,” said the 28-year-old from Oxford.

“Up until that point I hadn’t been too excited because I didn’t know where I was going, but as soon as it was sorted and I had looked around Headingley, there was genuine excitement.

“I can’t wait to pull on a Yorkshire shirt in Barbados and get the season under way.

“I really think there’s something special with this squad of players. We should be challenging for at least one trophy every year. I’d be very surprised if we don’t win something in the next few years.

“I’d been at Northants for four years, and we only went on one tour to Port Elizabeth.

“That was really good. We actually started that season 13 games unbeaten, so I think it does make a big difference when you do go away. It’s good for morale and bonding as a squad. We’re all excited for it.”

Brooks has also revealed it would not be just cricket on his mind while in the Caribbean because the likes of himself and flat-mate Liam Plunkett have an initiation task to do as new arrivals.

“I’ve got to do a five-minute show, which all the new guys have to do,” he explained.

“I’ve not got an idea at the minute, but I’ve been told I don’t want to lose. All the new guys are competing against each other, and you’ve got a few little challenges to do if you come last.”

Before that, Brooks will return to Colombo in Sri Lanka with captain Andrew Gale and five Yorkshire teenagers for an important training camp, a country he toured last winter with the England Lions.

“It will be good to hit the ground running in terms of training outside,” he added.

“I’ve been struggling with my Achilles for so long, but by the time I get out there I will be looking to bowl flat out. That makes a big difference when you can do it on grass rather than the Indoor School.

“It’s just a real niggling injury. The Achilles always takes a bit longer to get over than a standard muscle injury because of the amount of pressure that’s put on it. But we’ve been taking it little bit by little bit.

“There’s been an improvement each week. I’ve been running, sprinting and bowling, so hopefully it should be all right now.

“It was a trip that was spoken about just before Christmas. It was put out there for the lads if they wanted to go out. At the time it was in India before the BCCI stuff, but wherever it was going to be I really fancied it because of the timing around my injury and because it splits up the winter a bit.”