JACK Brooks knows how to win County Championship titles.

The paceman was an integral part of the Yorkshire side who lifted the trophy in consecutive years in 2014 and 2015 – he is now looking to add to his collection in the Westcountry.

The 34-year-old has signed a three-year deal at Somerset and moved in with Dom Bess over the off-season as he settles into a county with which he already had an affiliation – Brooks’ mother hails from Bath.

He knows as much as anyone, therefore, how much it would mean to see the Championship pennant flying above Taunton.

“I love that pressure,” he said.

“At Yorkshire we were supposed to be winning every game and I feed off that feeling.

“For me, that is why you play sport.

“It can be very tiring at the end of the season but if you win something it makes it unbelievably worthwhile.

“We have to have that inner belief that we can do it, as there might be a few doubts in terms of having come second or third quite a lot, which can be a bit of a mental block.

“It is about winning those tight moments in games, which good teams do – Somerset can do it over a certain period of time but they haven’t been able to do it in really big games that matter.

“I have been very fortunate to have enjoyed success at Yorkshire, so hopefully I can bring some of that experience down here.

“I won’t be bringing my medals in to show people but I have won the Championship and know what it takes. In terms of the team culture we have here we are not far away.

“I would like to think the Somerset public are quite demanding. People have been friendly and those I’ve seen around the town have wished me all the best.

“The fans here probably haven’t had the success they would have liked in terms of trophies but they fill out the ground and regularly punch above their weight.

“There is a fantastic, passionate support throughout the Westcountry – it would be great to win something here and see what would happen in the town and the area.

“It is special to win the Championship and I know the guys here are desperate to do it – it’s the Holy Grail.”

Jack Brooks on...

Somerset's turning wickets in recent years

"Of course there was talk about it, but that's because there wasn’t any other wicket doing it.

"It was mainly people not having a plan and batters not being good enough to cope with it.

"There may have been a couple of times early on when it went over the top but not last year.

"There are two international spinners here and good batsmen find a way to score runs – Hildy scored plenty here last year despite apparently playing on a minefield. If you are a good enough player you will find a way.

“On the circuit, apart from Lancs, quite a lot of the people you speak to don’t see an issue with it as long as it is safe.

"There are skilful spinners out there who need to be given a chance.

"Somerset have that in their locker and you play to your strengths – other teams need to work out a way to play it."

One down, three up in the County Championship

"There is slightly less pressure on teams as only one goes down.

"There might be less people moving around clubs – one of the reasons people move now is they want to be in Division 1.

"There has been a lot of chopping and changing – if there is a stable Division 1, that would probably reduce."

'The 100'

“If I’m asked to play in it I will play in it.

"I will play any form of cricket – it’s my job.

"I didn’t really think it was needed when it was announced but the proof will be in the pudding.

"It will be interesting – if it turns people who like cricket against it I am not sure how they can replace them.

"I can see why they’ve done it. They couldn’t have had another T20 tournament as that would make the Blast look silly but now there is a danger of making the 50-over tournament look silly, though it is a good opportunity for the young lads.

"It is a shame there won’t be games here, with the crowds that come here – it would have been nice for it to have been shared around more."

Social media reception from Somerset fans

“There were a couple of trolls to begin with - I don’t like people who get personal for no reason.

"Other than that everyone has been friendly and I’ve seen people around the town who have wished me all the best.

"People can judge me on performances – if you don’t like me as a cricketer, fine, but don’t weigh in on me personally when you don’t know me.

"You take the rough with the smooth but I’m confident in my own abilities. I want to improve and prove I’ve come here to win things."