Super Sam savouring Headingley homecoming

Now he will play at the headquarters of his native county when Yorkshire face Hampshire in the Championship from Friday.

“Beautiful ground, isn’t it?” said Whiteman as he relished the prospect, having signed for Yorkshire on a three-year, all-format deal in the winter.

“I hadn’t been to Headingley until last week (he then debuted in the opening match of the season at Glamorgan, scoring 48 and 24 in the draw in Cardiff).

“So, just to be able to train at Headingley once was special for me.

"I’ve only ever heard good things about the ground since coming to the club, so I’m really looking forward to the next few days.”

Whiteman, 34, rose through the ranks at Western Australia, winning numerous domestic trophies Down Under.

Now the wheel has come full circle for a man who still has family in the Doncaster area.

“Dad is there, grandma is there, and some extended family as well,” he said.

“I haven’t been over to Doncaster yet since arriving at the club, but I’ll definitely be catching up with the family soon.”

Is it something of a dream come true to play for Yorkshire? Whiteman was just three years old when his family moved Down Under.

“Yeah, absolutely,” he said.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, having been born over here, and the timing has worked out really well.

“I’m proud to play for the White Rose and, hopefully, I can contribute and we can have some really good success.”

Whiteman batted at No 3 in Cardiff and was relatively pleased with his efforts on debut.

“As a batter, you always want more runs, and I would love to have gone on,” he admitted.

It is only natural that he should take some time to adjust to English conditions.

There is a world of difference between the WACA in Perth - one of the fastest and bounciest pitches in the world - and Championship cricket in early April.

“Yeah, definitely different conditions,” he said.

“It was particularly slow and quite low in Cardiff as well - certainly a lot different to the WACA, that is for sure.

“But that’s the beauty of playing cricket around the world.

“You get challenged in all sorts of different conditions, and then it comes down to how you adapt.”

Whiteman said he had been warmly welcomed into the Yorkshire set-up.

“It's a very welcoming group, and I feel immediately part of the team,” he added.

“There’s a lot of friendly faces, and I’m really enjoying my cricket so far.

“Once I found out that Yorkshire were interested in signing me, it was a swift decision from my point of view.

“I’m really excited to be here and now to be playing at Headingley as well.”