Golden bat Lyth leads way in Yorkshire run chase

After all, who was going to challenge the prolific South African, a model of consistency since joining the club?

With two County Championship games to go, Rudolph is chasing a notable quadruple.

The 29-year-old has scored 1,298 runs at 56.43 and is on course for his most prolific campaign.

And yet Rudolph's pre-eminence is far from assured.

Anthony McGrath has emerged from the shadows this summer to score 1,174 runs at 48.91, while Adam Lyth has come from nowhere to outshine even the remarkable Rudolph.

In his first full season, Lyth has stroked 1,382 runs at 55.28.

He is the First Division's leading scorer ahead of Somerset's James Hildreth (1,309 at 65.45), and only Surrey's Mark Ramprakash (1,507 at 68.50) has accumulated more in Division Two.

The battle between the Yorkshire trio will make for an intriguing sub-plot in the next few weeks.

McGrath will have to do something special to finish first, but the former England all-rounder is perfectly capable of doing just that.

However, it is probable that Lyth or Rudolph, who have been opening together in the absence of Joe Sayers, will take the Yorkshire equivalent of the 'Golden Boot'.

All three challengers have played 14 Championship games, had 25 innings and done their county proud.

"The race to finish leading run-scorer is something the three of us are well aware of," said Lyth, the 22-year-old Whitby-born left-hander.

"We all know I'm about a hundred or so ahead, but you're only one good knock from being a hundred behind if someone else goes and gets a big score.

"I guess it will be extra motivation for us during the last couple of games and it will be fascinating to see who comes out on top.

"But just to be up there with the likes of Jacques and Anthony is a fantastic boost for a young player like myself."

Lyth's form this summer has been Rudolph-esque.

He has passed fifty in 10 of his 14 Championship appearances and during one golden spell in mid-season produced successive innings of 142, 93, 133, 98, 0 and 100.

The quality of his strokeplay, as much as the size of his scores, has earmarked Lyth as one of English cricket's brightest prospects.

His cover-driving has drawn comparison with David Gower, while his all-round game has steadily blossomed.

"I've done well in my first full season and I'm particularly pleased that I've managed to sustain my form throughout the year," said Lyth, who played only four Championship games last summer.

"I haven't tailed off halfway through the season, and I've always been hungry for more runs, which is the way you've got to be.

"Jacques always tells me that 1,000-run seasons are for average players; he says I'm a very good player and should be getting 1,400/1,500-plus.

"I want to get at least one more big hundred between now and the end of the season and get comfortably past the 1,500-mark."

Lyth credits Rudolph with having played a major part in his ongoing development.

"Jacques is an unbelievable player and an unbelievable person to have in the dressing room," he added.

"He's really helped me along, and I know it's the same for the other guys as well.

"His form during the past four seasons has been outstanding and you can't help but learn from someone like that.

"His attitude and professionalism are always spot-on."

Lyth's main focus is helping Yorkshire in their quest to win the Championship and Clydesdale Bank 40 League.

It will be difficult now to win the former, following Nottinghamshire's victory over Lancashire on Friday, but one-day league glory remains perfectly feasible.

"We're still in with a shout of winning some silverware and we're perfectly capable of doing that," he insisted.

"We've had a great season up to now and, hopefully, we can round it off in style.

"Everyone's backing each other and everyone's enjoying each other's success, and it's been great in the Yorkshire dressing room this year.

"We're a young side, but we've fought hard for each other and achieved some excellent results."

Lyth's form renders it unlikely he will be spending his winter at home in Yorkshire.

A tour place beckons – most probably on the Lions trip to Australia.

"If England recognition comes along, I'd be absolutely over the moon," said Lyth, who aims to follow county team-mates Tim Bresnan, Ajmal Shahzad and Adil Rashid into the international fold.

"It's what every player dreams about and it would be great to be a part of England's plans.

"But I don't want to get too far ahead of myself.

"As long as I keep scoring runs for Yorkshire, I know the rest will look after itself."

LYTH'S CHASE FOR TOP SPOT

Adam Lyth in the 2010 County Championship:

Warwickshire (Edgbaston): 6, 67.

Somerset (Headingley): 0, 90.

Kent (Canterbury): 8, 84.

Durham (Headingley): 85.

Essex (Scarborough): 47.

Somerset (Taunton): 142, 93.

Hampshire (Rose Bowl): 133, 98.

Lancashire (Headingley): 0.

Lancashire (Old Trafford): 100, 29.

Warwickshire (Headingley): 84, 1.

Essex (Chelmsford): 75, 42.

Nottinghamshire (Headingley): 0, 37.

Durham (Chester-le-Street): 6, 48.

Hampshire (Scarborough): 63, 44.

Total: matches 14, innings 25, not outs 0, runs 1,382, average 55.28, 100s 3, 50s 9.

Championship Division One leading run-scorers:

Adam Lyth (Yorkshire): 1,382.

James Hildreth (Somerset): 1,309.

Jacques Rudolph (Yorkshire): 1,298.

Marcus Trescothick (Somerset): 1,260.

Anthony McGrath (Yorkshire): 1,174.