Twenty20 is widely seen as a batsman’s game but Yorkshire seamer Steve Patterson believes that it is helping him become a better bowler in all forms.

The 26-year-old has broken into the White Rose county’s first team this year on a regular basis for the first time in his career.

The likes of Adam Lyth, Jonny Bairstow and Adil Rashid have taken most of the credit for Yorkshire’s success this summer but Patterson has been happy to quietly go about his business.

He is the county’s leading wicket taker with 11 from four Clydesdale Bank 40 matches, he has taken 12 wickets from 13 T20 games and also has 26 Championship scalps from eight fixtures.

Patterson said: “Twenty20 is so hit and miss. Some days you can get two or three wickets for nothing, next day you can go at ten an over.

“It’s a case of putting balls in the right areas and making them play good shots. If they play good shots, then fair enough.”

If a bowler can master a certain variation in Twenty20, surely it can be used to his advantage in any format – whether it be in regular one-day cricket or in the four-day arena.

Patterson, who should line up against Warwickshire in a must-win Friends Provident Twenty20 match at Edgbaston on Wednesday evening, agrees.

He said: “It makes you think about the game more. There is a massive contrast between Twenty20 and Championship cricket but the skills you learn are very useful in all forms.

“I definitely think that Twenty20 will improve my one-day game. If you can bowl in Twenty20 cricket, you should be able to bowl in any form of one-day cricket.”

Captain Andrew Gale is targeting three wins from the Tykes’ last three North Division matches to secure their place in the last eight.

His side also plays Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on Saturday and Derbyshire at the County Ground on Sunday.

But if other results go their way, it may be that two wins will be enough. If that is the case, one of them must come against Derbyshire, who are currently above them in the table.

England have made Ajmal Shahzad available for all three games but Tim Bresnan is being rested.