JAMES Middlebrook has spent his entire career appealing for decisions. Now he will turn his attention to giving them.

The veteran off-spinner was released by Northamptonshire at the end of last season but returned to Yorkshire colours for their recent LV= County Championship draw against Warwickshire at Headingley as cover for Adil Rashid.

And even though he took eight wickets in his first appearance for his home county in 14 years, the New Farnley player does not expect to play again.

"I've been looking to do umpiring for the last two or three years and it was just sort of a little fairytale ending to my playing career," said Middlebrook, whose match haul included the 15th five-wicket haul of his career.

"I have signed for the rest of the year if needed but I just took it as a one-off game for Yorkshire.

"I had got stuck in to umpiring but you can't really turn it down, playing for the White Rose.

"I'm not on the reserve list yet but Chris Kelly (ECB's head of umpires) has known for the last two or three years that I've been wanting to get into it.

"He was good in saying 'try and play as long as you can'. It was a bit of a shock when I told him I was turning out for the champions."

Middlebrook, Northants' leading run-scorer last year with 825, was hopeful of continuing his county career.

He said: "I had an okay season last year with bat and ball and I felt that there was some life in the old dog. But it just wasn't to be.

"I went to play grade cricket for Northcote in Melbourne during the winter and going to Australia helped me make peace (with the fact that my career was over).

"One of my best mates out there was retiring and he said 'we've got a young side and we need a bit of experience'.

"I also did a bit of coaching and Chris Kelly got me with Cricket Victoria on the umpiring side of things. I did a lot of midweek games.

"Playing a bit on a Saturday helped to keep me fit, then umpiring midweek helps you to learn how to give decisions."

Middlebrook did an excellent job as a replacement for Rashid, who has returned to Yorkshire colours this week after a frustrating month in the Caribbean with England.

If Middlebrook was selecting the team, he would have the 27-year-old all-rounder in it.

"If you are number ten in the MVP list in the country and getting 40 or 50 wickets every year, you've got to be doing something right," he said.

"Adil's been a very fine cricketer for the last four, five, six years. Facing him, he wraps up tails pretty well and can do a containing job as well.

"He also bats and fields, so I think he should be playing at the next level."