Bean keen for knowledge as Yorkshire CCC star looks to kick-on from maiden ton

Bean enjoyed batting with Adam Lyth, his opening partner, and then with the England batsman Dawid Malan, who started his campaign with 132.

For the 20-year-old Bean, playing only his fourth first-class game, batting with such players is a priceless experience.

“First of all, it’s really good to open with ‘Lythy’, just to watch him go about his business,” said Bean. “He calls me his apprentice, which is quite funny, and he’s been a great player now for many years.

“It’s alright being indoors watching players, but to actually be out there with them, seeing how they go about it, asking them little questions, it’s really good to learn off them. It was nice to bat with ‘Lythy’ and also with ‘Mala’; you can only learn from players like that.”

Bean, who earned a rookie contract last year on the back of a second XI record score of 441 against Notts, is also looking forward to learning close-up from Shan Masood. The Yorkshire captain is unavailable at present due to international commitments, with Bean happy to bat anywhere once Masood returns.

“If I’m picked, I’m happy to bat wherever,” he said. “I’m quite flexible with that; it’s up to ‘Gibbo’ (head coach Ottis Gibson) what kind of thing he goes for. As long as I’m playing, I’m happy.”

Now Bean wants to build on his opening day hundred, saying: “It was nice to get it in the first game of the season, just to tick it off, and hopefully I can go on and have a good year. I’ve had a few bits to work on this winter to get myself to a first-class standard, because last year exploited one or two things in my game.

“It was basically just my pre-movements, stuff like that; they were slightly crossed off last year and I was a candidate for bowled and lbw. I feel like my pre-movements have got a lot better, and I’m getting into a better position this year, touch wood.”