Best sets sights on emulating Yorkshire star Gough

The West Indian pace bowler has been snapped up until the end of May as a replacement for Australian quick Ryan Harris, who is currently playing in the Indian Premier League.

But with Harris likely to be called up for Australia's tour of England in mid-summer, and with Yorkshire anxious to boost their seam bowling department, Best is eager to stay for the rest of the season.

The 28-year-old joined his new team-mates in Canterbury yesterday after landing at Gatwick Airport at 6am following the lifting of flight restrictions caused by the volcanic ash cloud.

"I would love to stay at Yorkshire until the end of the season," said Best, who will make his debut in Sunday's ECB 40 League game against Essex at Chelmsford.

"I'm very grateful to Yorkshire to have given me the opportunity and now I want to show what I can do.

"To play county cricket is a dream come true and I'm determined to make the most of my chance.

"The club have made me very wanted and welcome and I can't wait to get out there and start taking wickets."

Best, who has played 14 Tests and 12 one-day internationals, hopes some good performances will catapult him back into the West Indies side.

He first appeared on the international scene in 2003 but has been unable to nail down a regular place.

"I'm definitely hoping to impress the West Indies' selectors by turning in some good displays for Yorkshire," said Best, who has been clocked at 92 mph.

"I'm still regarded as one of the quickest bowlers in the Caribbean along with Kemar Roach and I felt I bowled well during the first-class season in the West Indies just finished.

"I'm still a young man and I believe I've still got a lot to offer at international level.

"All I can do is try my best and then it's in God's hands – every day I ask Him to give me the strength to work hard at my game and be humble."

Best impressed Yorkshire's coaching staff after asking to join the club's pre-season tour of his native Barbados.

He also revealed one of his childhood heroes was former Yorkshire and England pace bowler Darren Gough.

"Yorkshire and Surrey have always been my two favourite counties: Yorkshire because Darren Gough was one of my great heroes and Surrey because my grandparents are Surrey fans," he added.

"I know all about the rivalry between the two clubs, but I've always had a soft spot for both.

"I always remember Gough getting a six-for against the Australians and scoring a fifty, and he's one of those guys I've always looked up to.

"I've got a lot of love and respect for him and I can't wait to see him if he comes up to Yorkshire.

"It's just great to be playing for the club full-stop because I really enjoyed practising

with them on their pre-season tour.

"My agent sent the club an

e-mail saying I'd like to join the guys for nets – and I felt it went really well.

"The West Indian first-class season ended quite early in preparation for the forthcoming Twenty20 World Cup and I just felt I needed to bowl a few balls at some quality players."

Best is famed for his aggressive on-field demeanour but insists he has calmed down in recent years.

Just 5ft 8ins, he is the classic definition of an in-your-face quick.

"I'm still aggressive but I'm a bit more mature now," he said.

"I still like to be in the batsman's face but I've settled down a bit and am probably a bit more humble.

"I think you calm down as you get older and, age-wise, I'll be one of the senior players in the Yorkshire team.

"I've never really thought of myself as a senior player before, so with that will come added responsibility."

Best believes he has joined a Yorkshire side with the ability to challenge for silverware on all fronts.

The club have made an encouraging start to the season under new captain Andrew Gale and Best insists they can keep it going.

"I think Yorkshire are a very good unit," he added. "The fact they won their first two County Championship games spoke volumes for the talent in the team and I think they've got a very good coaching staff.

"I've just got to do my job properly and, if I manage that, everything else will fall into place.

"The club have a very good bowling attack and I know I've got an important role."

From Barbados to Headingley

Name: Tino la Bertram Best.

Born: August 26, 1981, Barbados.

Height: 5ft 8ins.

Style: Right-arm fast, right-hand bat.

Test debut: May 2003 v Australia.

Last Test appearance: July 2009 v Bangladesh.

Test bowling average: 28 wkts at 48.67 in 14 Tests.

One-day internationals: 13 wkts at 36.69 in 12 matches.

First-class record: 221 wkts at 26.98 in 72 matches.

Major teams: West Indies, Barbados, Mumbai Champs, Yorkshire.