Yorkshire have turned to a former soldier shot in Afghanistan in a bid to give them the mental edge for the new county cricket season.

Captain Andrew Gale invited Martin Hewitt, a 31 year-old who has become one of the country’s top disabled skiers after losing the use of his right arm in 2007, to Headingley to address his squad before Christmas.

Hewitt has undergone 13 operations and has put sport at the centre of his recovery since being shot through the shoulder and foot during a battle with insurgents while serving with the Parachute Regiment.

Keen on skiing and athletics, he was able to reach international level at ski racing.

He aims to represent Team GB at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

He has also undertaken a number of other endurance challenges, most notably as part of the Walking With The Wounded expedition to the North Pole last year.

A team of former servicemen entered the record books by reaching the North Pole unsupported, a trek which Prince Harry also undertook.

Hewitt has provided motivational presentations to a number of sporting teams, including Matthew Hoggard’s Leicestershire. And it was something that interested Gale.

He explained: “To have something like 15 operations and do what he does now with the use of one arm is inspirational, and I’m quite keen to get people like that in to talk to the lads.

“You’re only going to enhance yourself by listening to these sorts of people. If you can just pick up one or two things from them, then it’s job done as far as I’m concerned.”

Hewitt, who played league cricket and at school in Widnes pre-injury, said: “I just try to use examples of what I’ve done to assist others. Ski racing has been my sport.

“I’ve taken skiing to an international level post injury, and now I’m heavily involved in the adventure expeditions.

“I kind of just use those as examples of how you use your training to meet the physical feat that you’re taking on, whether it be sport or, for some people, just getting out of bed and doing a bit of exercise.

“With Yorkshire, the main focus of my presentation was on focus and commitment.

“At elite level sport, guys are doing the same thing week in and week out to achieve microscopic differences in performance. That’s difficult.

“Having the sheer bloody-mindedness can often be what separates those who win from those don’t.”

Hewitt is preparing to climb Mount Everest in May, while Yorkshire get ready for their own Everest climb - County Championship promotion!

But that feat should be made that touch easier with the help of the inspirational Hewitt.