JOE Sayers believes a winter of “soul searching” has helped make him a far better player.

The Yorkshire batsman has been one of the few highlights in County Championship cricket, scoring two big hundreds against Warwickshire and Somerset.

The 25 year-old had a similarly prolific run in 2007, that time scoring three hundreds in five matches, but struggled to hold down a place last season.

He played just six fourday matches last summer.

“It was a very frustrating and very difficult time for me, but I did some soul searching over the winter and feel that I’ve come through it a better player, a stronger player,” said Sayers, who hit 173 at Edgbaston and 152 at Taunton last week.

“Losing your place in the first eleven is always a low point. If I was to pick bad moments for me then that was one of them, but it was a difficult year (2008) in general. It took a lot of graft and patience to get through.

“I am a stronger person as well, who is capable of leading younger players who go through similar experiences in the future. I’ve benefited from it, and now those around me can benefit from it as well.”

Sayers also did plenty of technical work over the offseason, opening up his grip to enable him to play more through the off-side.

“I think there have been quite a few technical improvements, and that has come from the work I’ve done with the two batting coaches, Martyn Moxon and Kevin Sharp, they’ve been a great support to me,” he continued.

“Also I’ve learnt what the best way to play for Joe Sayers is, and have looked at why it had gone so well for me in the early part of 2007. Now, really, it’s about trusting that and keeping faith with it.

“I’m very pleased with my form. We’re not even half way through the season yet, so hopefully that will continue.

“I was really pleased to get the runs against Somerset, and particularly pleased because, in a young side, I wanted to help lead the way.”

No matter how happy Sayers is with his current form, he will have started this week down in the dumps after the horror defeat at Somerset, where the hosts reached 479-6 to record the second biggest winning total in Championship history.

“It has plunged Yorkshire deep into the relegation mire ahead of Friday’s home match with champions, and current leaders, Durham.

“We have some time off before Durham,” added Sayers.

“I’m getting away for a couple of days, and putting the bats away, before returning to training ahead of the game."