Yorkshire’s opening duo can emulate Australian legends

Gale believes there are similarities between the young Yorkshire duo and Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden.

Langer and Hayden were Test cricket’s second-most prolific opening partners, sharing 5,655 runs with an average stand of 51.88.

Only West Indians Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes scored more Test runs for the first wicket – 6,482 at an average of 47.31.

Although Lyth and Lees are clearly at the opposite end of the career ladder, with neither having yet played international cricket, Gale believes their potential is obvious.

Lyth, 26, is leading run-scorer in Division One of the County Championship with 1,013 at 59.58, while Lees, 21, is 15th in the national list with 693 at 43.31 and improving rapidly.

The left-handers have opened together 30 times for Yorkshire in first-class cricket since April last year, with an average stand of 51.78 – a figure that climbs to 75.05 this summer.

And their liking for big partnerships – as well as their style and physical stature at the crease – has led Gale to pay them glowing tribute and draw comparison with Australia’s finest.

“They’re almost cementing a Langer/Hayden-type partnership at the top of our order,” said Gale, whose side return to action today against Worcestershire at Headingley in the Royal London One-Day Cup (10.30am start).

“We actually call Alex Lees ‘Haydos’ (Hayden’s nickname) because of the similarities between them.

“Like Hayden, Leesy is a bit of a bully in the way that he hits the ball and physically very imposing.

“Lythy is physically smaller, like Langer in comparison, and both lads bat in such a free-flowing way.

“The way they’re going at the moment, you’d have to say the world is their oyster in international terms.

“Lythy is probably ahead of Leesy at the minute in terms of consistency throughout the season, and I’d expect him to be next in line for an England call-up.

“Leesy has had a fantastic summer and backed up a bright start for us last year.

“It’s always a good test of a player when they come to their second season, and he’s done really well and the two of them just love batting together.”

Lyth is widely regarded as the next cab off the rank if England look for a new opening batsman.

Alastair Cook took the heat off himself with scores of 95 and 70 not out in the last Test against India at Southampton, but Sam Robson has yet to completely cement his place as Cook’s partner.

“Two weeks ago, you’d have probably said that Lythy would get the nod if Cook failed, but Alastair Cook was always going to come good at some stage,” said Gale.

“But Lythy is still probably not a million miles away from England selection.

“There’s probably no better time, in fact, to be coming through in English cricket and trying to get an England place.

“Obviously, I’d hate to see Lythy and Leesy go from our perspective, but I’m sure at some stage they’re going to get the nod from England.”

Lyth and Lees were in devastating form in Yorkshire’s last game against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road on Tuesday, sharing a stand of 195 to help their side to a six-wicket win.

It followed their partnership of 375 at the same ground in the Championship in June, the fourth-highest stand in Yorkshire’s history.

Such has been their success, with Lyth and Lees also averaging 69.20 in their five List A games opening together, Gale believes they make opposition teams change their plans, forcing bowlers to adjust their lengths.

“In Championship cricket, I think a lot of teams tend to bowl quite short at us because the two openers drive the ball so well,” he added. “Bowlers pull their lengths back, and when I go in later, for example, they’re still bowling short to me, which is great.

“They put bowlers under so much pressure early in the innings without sometimes even playing shots in anger.

“They complement each other so well and are developing as characters; Leesy has come into his own this year and become a voice in the dressing room, while Lythy has matured a lot in the last two years.”

Lyth and Lees will be looking to continue their good form today against a Worcestershire team who won by 88 runs at Northamptonshire in their first 50-over match before their last game at home to Derbyshire was rained off.

Victory today, followed by another at Leicestershire tomorrow, would give Yorkshire four wins out of five and see them put one foot firmly in the last eight.

Yorkshire (from): Gale (capt), Bresnan, Brooks, Fisher, Hodd, Leaning, Lees, Lyth, Patterson, Pyrah, Rashid, Williamson.