Struggling Lyth adamant he can deliver the goods for England

The 27-year-old opener was desperately out of sorts against Australia this summer, averaging only 12.77 and his place on the winter tour to the UAE to face Pakistan is in serious doubt, with England coach Trevor Bayliss already having hinted that all-rounder Moeen Ali may open the batting with Alastair Cook.

But, writing on his official Facebook page yesterday, Whitby-born Lyth insisted his tough summer had made him even hungrier to succeed at international level.

“You don’t become a bad player overnight and you don’t in five games either,” insisted Lyth.

“It’s been an incredible few weeks and now I’m an Ashes winner – nobody can take that away from me.

“It could have gone better on a personal note but that’s cricket and that can happen when you’re facing one of the best attacks in the world on testing pitches.

“I don’t really pay attention to people talking about who will open in the UAE with Alastair Cook, it’s completely out of my hands who the selectors pick.

“I am 100 poer cent behind my game and I back my ability so it would be nice if I could get a couple of hours at the crease soon to get back in the groove.”

Ali, meanwhile, said yesterday that he would love to open the batting for England.

Writing in his England and Wales Cricket Board blog, Ali – who averages 38.01 from 15 Tests – said: “I certainly wouldn’t mind opening, in Tests as well as white-ball cricket.

“But I feel a bit bad talking about that because of Adam Lyth.

“I really admire the way he stayed bubbly and positive in the changing room when it can be very easy to not give anything to the team.

“I think he’ll come back strong.”