Video: England call-up for Lyth surely only matter of time

HE is a Test match cricketer-in-waiting. And, on the evidence of this season, he will not be waiting for much longer.
Yorkshire's Adam Lyth celebrates winning the County Championship. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.Yorkshire's Adam Lyth celebrates winning the County Championship. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.
Yorkshire's Adam Lyth celebrates winning the County Championship. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.

Adam Lyth, the 26-year-old opener, has been Yorkshire’s star with the bat this season.

The Whitby-born left-hander has scored 1,428 County Championship runs at 71.40 – more than anyone else in the country.

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Significantly, when the pressure was at its height, Lyth hit 373 of those runs in his last two innings to help Yorkshire to the title.

Yorkshire's Adam Lyth celebrates winning the County Championship. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.Yorkshire's Adam Lyth celebrates winning the County Championship. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.
Yorkshire's Adam Lyth celebrates winning the County Championship. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.

He scored a career-best 251 against Lancashire and followed up with 122 in the Championship-clinching victory over Nottinghamshire.

“In the last two games I’ve managed to put in two big performances, and that just makes it ultra-special from a personal point of view,” said Lyth. “But the whole team deserves this Championship win; it’s not just about a few individuals. Everyone has played their part, and this is really what dreams are made of – playing for Yorkshire and winning the Championship.”

It might not be too much longer before Lyth achieves another dream – that of playing for England.

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If there was another Test series now, he would surely be called up in place of Sam Robson to partner captain Alastair Cook. As it is, England do not play Test cricket again until next April, when they travel to West Indies. Lyth will be crossing his fingers he still gets the nod.

“Whatever happens, happens,” he said. “If I don’t get the call, I don’t get the call. I’m knocking on the door, and that’s all I can do. I feel I’m ready.”

Lyth has developed greatly as a cricketer this year, working hard on his concentration and tightening his technique.

“Maybe in the last couple of seasons I wouldn’t have put in the performances under pressure,” he said. “But I’ve matured as a player and person. I’m delighted to have scored the runs I’ve scored. It’s just an unbelievable privilege to be part of this team.”