By Gary Watton
March 28 2014

With the sunny or not so sunny days of spring and summer fast approaching (and not before time), let us have a look at the Yorkshire squad that will do battle in various first XI and second XI competitions in the near future. I have arranged the following 26 gents in alphabetical order. Personally I think that 26 is a little on the high side. Maybe we need to offload a few players?

Moin Ashraf - Moin's opportunities were limited by the arrival of Brooks and Plunkett. He will be pushing for a prolonged stint in the first XI this season.

Jonny Bairstow - I don't think our wicketkeeper-batsman is going to make the grade with England. However, England's loss will be Yorkshire's gain.

Gary Ballance - If he is among the runs in the early weeks, then a test recall beckons. He will definitely make lots of runs this summer for someone.

Tim Bresnan - Brezza is still in the plans of the England selectors. He's a wholehearted performer. However, is he even Yorkshire's best seamer?

Jack Brooks - I was quite impressed with him last year. Hopefully Brooks can go from strength to strength. I want him to be a first XI regular in 2014.

Ben Coad - Ben has been in Australia at the Darren Lehman Academy. Will this tuition take him up to the level of playing in the County Championship?

Aaron Finch - This guy pomises to be a big hit in Twenty20 and limited-overs cricket. Will he also excel at the four-day version? Let's hope so.....

Matthew Fisher - Matt will be concentrating on his schooling, but I am sure that he will get outings in various one-day matches. He is an exciting prospect.

Andrew Gale - Our captain marvel rediscovered his scoring touch last summer. We all hope for more of the same in 2014.

Barney Gibson - Barney has years ahead of him in this game. He will be restricted to the occasional one-day outing while he learns the tricks of the trade.

Andrew Hodd - Andy is hailed as an expert glovesman. He needs to provide more runs or he will be playing second fiddle to Jonny Bairstow much of the time.

Dan Hodgson - Dan is a talented wicketkeeper-batsman who is likely to see more action this year in limited-overs cricket.

Jack Leaning - I regarded this spin bowler and middle-order batsman as our best performer in the second XI last year. Can he push on from there?

Alex Lees - Alex was something of a revelation last year. Can he push for a place in the England team? Or will his form decline after such an impressive 2013?

Adam Lyth - Adam is a useful one-day bowler. He still remains a dangerous batsman. However, he is often plagued by early dismissals and inconsistency.

Steven Patterson - Steven is Yorkshire's great unsung hero. There are people selected for England who are less prolific wicket-takers. He is a fine bowler.

Liam Plunkett - Liam weighs in with some good late-order knocks but I find him to be way too expensive. He needs to bowl with more control.

Richard Pyrah - Rich is a willing workhorse. His bowling in one-day matches is a particular asset. He needs however to make more runs this year.

Azeem Rafiq - His career took a bit of a nosedive last year on account of injury. I hope that this spinner will be pushing Rashid for a place in the first XI.

Adil Rashid - A harvest of runs last year kept him in the team. He has become a batsman who can bowl a little, having been a spin bowler who can bat a bit.

Will Rhodes - Named after a Yorkshire cricketing icon, the locals have high hopes that he can deliver his talent for both county and country in due course.

Oliver Robinson - Oliver is a very capable all-rounder who is sure to be in the reckoning for one-day appearances. He is possibly not yet first XI material.

Joe Root - Either England duty or injury will regrettably restrict our boy wonder to a handful of appearances at the beginning and the end of the summer.

Ryan Sidebottom - He continues to defy his advancing years and remain a stalwart in our attack. Can he sustain his fine bowling form of 2013?

Jonathan Tattersall - Jonny is the latest prodigy to hail from our opening batsmen assembly line. This fine prospect will eventually feature in the first XI.

Kane Williamson - The Kiwi maestro was a brilliant addition to our batting line-up at the tail-end of last summer. I expect lots of runs from him in 2014.