Stubborn Lees tipped to make it to top by Lions chief

Robinson, who led the party on the sub-continent and is also coach at Sussex, believes Lees has all the attributes to go far in the game.

The 21-year-old opener has been one of the success stories of Yorkshire’s season, averaging more than 40 in the County Championship and delivering consistently impressive performances in limited-overs cricket.

Lees has struck up a formidable partnership with fellow left-hander Adam Lyth, the pair having recorded five century stands in all cricket and given the team solid starts.

Robinson, whose side won the unofficial three-match Test series against Sri Lanka A 1-0, sees a bright future ahead for the Halifax-born Lees.

“I was so impressed with Alex Lees in the winter,” said Robinson.

“He’s such a strong character and I’m a big fan of his.

“What particularly impressed me was his self-belief.

“He’s got to bump his head a few times, as they all do, but he looked like he had the potential with the temperament he’s got.”

Lees, who opened the batting with Sam Robson in each of the three Tests, scored 204 runs on the trip at 34.00.

He made 119 in a three-day game against Sri Lanka Emerging Players in Colombo and impressed Robinson with his tenacity.

“He’s a stubborn character,” said Robinson, “but he’s also very humble as well.

“He’s a good kid with a big heart and what he had was great presence.

“That gives you a chance, and if he uses his stubbornness as a strength and stays humble, he’s got every chance of doing well if he keeps scoring runs.”

Yorkshire’s Jonny Bairstow and Liam Plunkett were also on the tour, and Robinson was pleased with the attitude they showed.

“Bluey (Bairstow) did well for us, and it was a tough time for him after the Ashes,” said Robinson.

“He just needed some space and time back in county cricket to score some runs and feel good about himself.

“Most players go into international cricket and come out, and the key is when they go out that they come back stronger and more ready.

“Pudsey (Plunkett) was another who impressed, and I’m delighted to see the progress that he’s made.”

Robinson, 47, still retains a great affection for Yorkshire, who beat his Sussex side by nine wickets at Scarborough last week.

The former right-arm pace bowler played 90 first-class matches for the White Rose between 1991 and 1995, capturing 218 wickets at 31.49, and he is delighted for them that they are doing well this year.

Yorkshire go into the final month of the season leading the County Championship by six points over Nottinghamshire, well-placed to end their 13-year wait for a four-day title.

Although third-placed Warwickshire are not out of the running, nor technically fourth-placed Somerset, it looks like a straight fight at this stage between Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire.

“Yorkshire are a good county and very close to my heart,” said Robinson, who was born in Hull.

“They’re certainly good enough to win the Championship this year, although Notts are a good team as well.

“Notts have got a good seam attack and it’s going to be a great contest, you would think.

“We’ve got Notts towards the back end and it should be an exciting finish to the season.”

As one of the most successful coaches in English cricket during the past decade, Robinson knows better than most what it takes to get over the line.

Sussex have been without several players for long periods this summer, including England pace bowler Chris Jordan, but Yorkshire have shown strength in depth despite losing pace bowler Plunkett and batsmen Joe Root and Gary Ballance to England this year.

“It’s difficult to win trophies because the goalposts can get moved so quickly,” said Robinson.

“One minute you get a good crop and then lose them to England, the Lions, or whatever, and it can be a challenge.

“We didn’t have Jordan at Scarborough, for example, and it’s a balancing act for the counties.

“Yorkshire have shown their strength and are deservedly riding high this year.”

Robinson continued: “The bottom line is that Yorkshire is the biggest club in the country. There’s more clubs in Yorkshire than anywhere else. There’s so much talent in the county.

“You need Yorkshire to be playing well to keep cricket alive in the county and in the clubs, and they are playing well at the moment.

“Yorkshire produce a lot of young players and Martyn Moxon and Jason Gillespie are nurturing them very nicely.

“They are giving them exactly the right support and, as coaches, they complement each other really well.”