JACK Brooks is ready for his second reunion of the summer with his old Yorkshire teammates – and the seamer is hoping this one will feel “less weird” than the first.

Brooks spent six seasons at Headingley, playing a major role in the club’s back-to-back County Championship triumphs in 2014 and 2015, but enjoyed a less successful return with Somerset when the two sides met in June.

“It was strange, it felt like a bit of an open net at times,” Brooks said.

“The intensity was there, of course, but I was playing against guys I had trained with day in, day out for six years. I know their games inside out and they know mine.

“It was a really strange week and we got absolutely hammered, so it wasn't a great return.”

Somerset ended up losing by an innings and 73 runs but are determined to show their resolve in the rematch, as a similar result could put an end to their County Championship challenge.

The hosts will also have to start better than they did in their most recent Championship clash at Edgbaston, which saw Warwickshire end the first day on 303-4 before Somerset fought back to win on the final afternoon.

“We didn't turn up on day one,” Brooks said.

“You don't expect to win too many Championship games when the opposition score 420 but they threw it away in their second innings.

“We bowled and fielded really well to drag ourselves back into it and the young lads really came to the fore in that second innings.

“Days two, three and four of that match have set the standard and we cannot make a slow start again - the better teams won't let you back in to the game.”

Yorkshire, for example, are sat third in the table going into this week and look unlikely to be so charitable – as Brooks will well know from those title wins in 2014 and 2015.

Many of his teammates from those successful sides remain part of the Yorkshire squad but, now in the opposing camp, Brooks is hoping his title-winning knowhow can rub off on his Somerset teammates in the weeks to come.

“That was part of the reason I was brought here, for that experience,” he said.

“I am not someone who is daunted by these occasions.

“It is about keeping people calm, sticking to a process that works and not getting too excited by what might happen.

“You have to live in the here and now and take each session, each day as it comes. It's a big cliche but it's important to not look too far ahead.

“We have taken encouragement from having already won a competition this year.

“It was massive to win that Lord's final as it has helped shake off that underdog, second-placed tag.

“I think we can go into this run-in a bit relaxed as I see us as massive underdogs.

“Essex are top at the minute, they have experience of winning it before and they are not really affected by injuries or international call-ups.

“There is no reason we can't go out there with a bit of freedom and excitement with nothing to lose.

“It would be great if we won it but we've got two big games before we play Essex so we will see where we are.”

It has been somewhat of a stop-start season for the wily paceman, who admitted he has felt “in and out of rhythm all year” as a result of playing primarily Championship cricket.

“The nature of the schedule doesn't help people who just play one format,” he said.

“There were other guys who were doing better than me in T20 and they had an idea of their best team.

“Most of our bowlers are good batters and fielders as well and I felt my main competition was Jerome [Taylor], so there was an overseas player in my role - which was fine, as they already had him before I signed.

“They were not going to play too many 35-year-old out and out bowlers together.

“I was disappointed but, at the same time, I just have to be better. I will keep working hard and hopefully have a clearer idea of the situation ahead of next season.”

Now with only Championship cricket to come – and in the absence of Craig Overton due to England commitments - Brooks will play a key role both this week and during the run-in as a whole. It is a responsibility he is relishing.

“This is why I play professional cricket,” the 35-year-old said.

“I want to be involved in big moments and big games, challenging for trophies.

“Somerset have had a mixed bag over the years with either fighting relegation or going for the title and it shows how good the squad is at the moment that we are up there challenging.

“I have not even thought one bit about the Hampshire and Essex games as we have such a big game this week.”

“We have a tough test this week and we are not looking any further than that.”