The fragility of Azeem Rafiq's position back at the top level means the Barnsley off-spinner will not allow himself to look beyond anything more than the very next game.
Rafiq, 25, is back at Yorkshire CCC, two years after being released. It is a second chance he and others did not think he would get. Former Holgate School pupil Rafiq believes having a short-term view is allowing him to enjoy his cricket and perform better.
Rafiq told the Chronicle: "I feel like a kid with new toys. Every day I wake up and I can't wait to get out there and have a bat and a bowl. I want to help the team win games and I am not looking much further than that. "I am really at ease with myself and what I am trying.
"Obviously everyone has a dream to go further but I just want to enjoy every day because it is not often that you get a second chance.
"From one week I was asked whether I wanted to play for Yorkshire second team to two weeks later being in the first team. It has all happened really quickly so I've not had much time to digest it but it's been absolutely brilliant. " have worked really hard over the last couple of years and now I am just loving every second of it."
Rafiq believes getting his home life sorted has allowed his cricket to prosper. He got married late last year and then spent time in Dubai working for a cricket coaching company. He spent last season at Barnsley CC and has played for Sheffield and Phoenix United this season before he was invited to play for Yorkshire's 2nd XI.
It was a chance Rafiq, who has had trials with other counties, had been waiting for and jumped at. In the past he has struggled with anxiety and depression and admits candidly: "It wasn't an easy time but it's something I always believed when I was going through it that I would become a much better person and a much stronger person. It has been a tough couple of years and not many people get the chance to go back to Yorkshire.
"I have definitely found out who my real friends are and the biggest thing is the support I have had from my family. My wife has also been a great support. I'm seeing cricket as how I saw it as a kid. I love getting out there.
"Just generally in my life I am a lot more settled and that I feel is putting me in good stead to be much more consistent out on the field. I'm delighted that I got the opportunity in the first place and now I'm even happier that I'm back and managing to put in some performances that can help the teams win games.
"For me it's very simple. Over the last two years I've tried to control the things I can control and that is my own preparation and how I go about my cricket."
Rafiq, a former captain for Yorkshire and England under 19s, was brought back to Headingley on a contract until the end of the season last month. Since then he has helped to revitalise the Vikings' chances in the T20 Blast with wins over Lancashire, Birmingham and Derbyshire and Durham on Wednesday, when he took two wickets. He has also played in the County Championship for the reigning champions in games against Surrey and Middlesex.
Impressing in the short format is something he expects to do but it is in the four-day games that he wants to make a bigger impression in what has been a weather-hit season for the county.
"I've not really had much of an opportunity to show what I can do in red ball cricket but I felt that I bowled nicely at Scarborough and then at the Oval.
"T20 comes a bit more naturally to me. It is something I really thrive on and it's great that we have managed to get some wins."
Rafiq has been working closely with former Barnsley player and coach Steve Oldham, who has also coached the likes of Darren Gough and Ryan Sidebottom. Having been last when Azeem signed, Yorkshire are fifth in their T20 group, with four making the quarter-finals.
