When Gerard Brophy sat down with Andrew Gale around Christmas time to discuss his role in the Yorkshire side, he must have been knocked for six.

The White Rose captain informed the club’s beneficiary that he would no longer be their first-choice wicketkeeper, with that honour going to Jonny Bairstow.

It left Brophy with no option but to work his socks off at improving his out-fielding and his batting in a bid to nail down a spot at number six.

And judging by his majestic 177 in the opening County Championship win over Worcestershire at New Road, he has done just that.

Ahead of the four-day clash with Durham at Headingley, starting tomorrow, the 35-year-old South African-born player said: “I enjoyed my performance against Worcestershire.

“I’m pleased with the way I’ve started the season and hopefully that can continue. It was my top score for Yorkshire and hopefully the first of many this season.”

When Brophy strode to the crease, Yorkshire were struggling at 73-4 in reply to Worcester’s first-innings 286 and he saw his side slip further into danger at 155-7.

But he shared notable partnerships of 149 with Ryan Sidebottom and 43 with Moin Ashraf to help push the total to 368 and set up the nine-wicket win.

Brophy said: “When the chips are down, like they were, it is nice to do well. It is always a really good feeling when you come off with a big score.”

Bairstow impressed behind the stumps at New Road, taking four catches and only conceding four byes, and Brophy understands why Gale and Martyn Moxon have decided the time is right to hand the 21-year-old the gloves.

“Jonny is a young keeper and he needs to be given the chance to see how much he can achieve behind the stumps,” he said.

“But I want to play. If it is as a batter, a bowler, or whatever, I just want to be a part of this team.”

Joe Sayers has been left out of Yorkshire’s 13-man squad for this week’s match. Joe Root is expected to open the batting, with Anthony McGrath at number three.