A sitdown with Yorkshire CCC’s James Wharton and Matty Revis

Wharton scored his maiden T20 hundred and finished the year strongly in Championship cricket, while all-rounder Revis achieved his first two centuries at Championship level and his first five-wicket haul too, in addition to a hat-trick in the One-Day Cup.

Now, fresh from a winter playing grade cricket in Australia, the pair are looking forward to the county season that starts on Friday.

The Yorkshire Post: First of all, how are you feeling?

Revis: “I feel really refreshed after the winter period. Going to Australia, I didn’t know what to expect, but it was really enjoyable and the first time over there for both of us. Everyone’s had a good pre-season, and we’re ready to get cracking. The pre-season tour to Abu Dhabi was brilliant.

Wharton: “Definitely. It was a great winter, and we’ve had everything that we wanted going into the season. Abu Dhabi, like ‘Rev’ said, was mint. It really couldn’t have gone any better, and we played some good cricket over there, too. I think, this year, it’s a no-excuse mentality. The situation with the points (deduction) has gone, everyone’s fit, and we just need to crack on and win some games.”

The Yorkshire Post: You’ll be significantly boosted by the return/availability of Harry Brook and Joe Root (the England pair are each available for five of the first seven Championship games).

Wharton: “Absolutely, and feeding off guys like that is brilliant as well, just feeding off them and listening and watching what they’re doing. It’s amazing for the squad and for us as young players.”

Revis: “They’re just so accommodating as well, aren’t they. You can ask them about anything and they’re willing to share their knowledge with you. Obviously, coming from the highest level of the game, that’s absolutely priceless.”

The Yorkshire Post: “Is there anything that distinguishes such players and sets them apart?

Wharton: “I reckon just their work ethic, their hunger. You hear it all the time… ‘oh, this player is in the nets all the time’, and so on, but these players actually are. They work harder than anybody. ‘Brooky’... you can’t pull him out of the nets. ‘Rooty’, obviously we see him a bit less, but he’s just the same, always in the nets, always working on his game.’

The Yorkshire Post: Even without those two, it still looks a very strong squad. There’ll be a lot of expectation on the team to perform?

Wharton: “Yes, but we’re just trying to focus on what we’re doing and not really listen to too much outside noise, if there is actually any outside noise. I think all we can say is that the squad is in a really good place with loads of top players.”

Revis: “100 per cent. Everyone’s also had another year behind them, so us younger lads are another year more experienced. Hopefully, we can really try and get a foothold in the team and start winning games for Yorkshire.”

The Yorkshire Post: “There’s a clutch of very good young all-rounders in the squad, so potentially a lot of selection headaches for the captain and coach?”

Revis: “That’s it. Hilly and Tommo (George Hill and Jordan Thompson) are two of the best in this division, without a doubt. The competition is pretty healthy among all of us. The ideal scenario is that we can all play in the same team, but we’ll see what happens.”

Wharton: “The beauty of it, especially with ‘Rev’ and ‘Hilly’, is that they can bat one to seven. They’re both more than capable to take the new rock if it was required. We’ve definitely got some terrific all-rounders.”

The Yorkshire Post: “What about white-ball? It’s over 20 years now since the club won a one-day trophy.”

Wharton: “Last year, in the 50-over comp, we let ourselves down and I don’t think we played the cricket we know we’re capable of playing. I think this year we go in with a better attitude and mindset. In the T20 stuff we had a great winning streak where we won six or seven on the bounce, followed by a couple of losses and poor performances. You’re always going to have those, but it’s about parking the losses quickly and bouncing back quickly. We might have some of the England boys available for that comp, you never know.”

The Yorkshire Post: “Any personal targets?”

Revis: “I think the main aim for everyone really is promotion and trying to win the league. Putting in match-winning performances for Yorkshire - that’s basically the goal.”

Wharton: “Absolutely. Like ‘Rev’ said as well, us younger blokes have had another year behind us, although we’re not that young anymore and it’s time that we start standing up and winning games for Yorkshire. But no one’s got a God-given right; there are some very good teams out there, and we’ve got to play well.”

And with that, the two Yorkshire young guns went back to work to prepare for the new season.

It promises to be a good one - for themselves and for the team.