"I think it's becoming well known that to play Test cricket, you need to be playing and performing in Division One.
"I hope, when I get the opportunity, I can perform and put my name in the hat.
"That's one of the reasons I've moved here - to play Division One red-ball cricket."
Willey was not tempted therefore - this year at least - by the Indian Premier League.
Instead, he wants to extend his portfolio elsewhere - as a new weapon in Yorkshire's renowned attack alongside Ryan Sidebottom, Liam Plunkett, Tim Bresnan and his former Northants team-mate Jack Brooks.
"If you go to the IPL and are in the England one-day set-up, you end up only being available for a handful of championship games - which defeats the object of me moving here," he added.
Wisden cricketers of the year
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"Test cricket is the pinnacle still. I've always wanted to follow in my dad's footsteps and play Test cricket."
White-ball success with his native county, including a starring role in the team which won the Twenty20 title in 2013, has given him profile in the shorter formats.
"I think if you're in a successful team, you're going to get recognised in that format," he said.
"I can understand that, and I've got a long way to go in championship cricket to maybe get Test recognition - which I'm aware of.
"But I hope this is a stepping stone to doing that."
