Yorkshire’s Lees hits century to impress Gillespie

Lees, a left-handed opening batsman who turns 20 next Sunday, is poised to make his Championship debut against Sussex at Headingley on Wednesday in the absence of Joe Root, who misses the game after being told to rest by the England management after the tour to New Zealand.

Lees is likely to get the nod over Joe Sayers, who would make way for Australian batsman Phil Jaques in the only change to the side that faced the students.

Jaques was unavailable for this game as his family was arriving from Australia and Lees effectively won a “bat-off” between himself and Sayers.

Jason Gillespie, Yorkshire’s first team coach, last night kept his selection cards close to his chest but confirmed Lees had put himself firmly in the frame after a magnificent innings of 121.

“Alex has given himself every opportunity and has a genuine chance to make his Championship debut,” said Gillespie.

“We speak to all our players about being their own best selector and Alex has certainly done everything he can.

“He works very hard at training, asks a lot of good questions and puts the time and effort into his game. We’ve got some decisions to make in terms of selection and I was really pleased and impressed with his knock.”

Gillespie’s delight was enhanced by the performance of Plunkett, who showed precisely why the Australian was so keen to get him on board.

Plunkett’s career had stalled at Durham but, on this evidence, it could soon move quickly through the gears.

“When Liam bowls like that there’s not many quicker in England,” said Gillespie.

“That was very hostile fast bowling on a wicket that was not that quick and he made the batsmen jump with genuine pace.

“You could say it was only against the students but, I tell you what, that would have made seasoned first-class players jump around.

“That was proper fast bowling from a proper fast bowler.”

After a disappointing start to the match when they fell to 10-4 and 65-7 before recovering to 244 in their first innings, a strong Yorkshire were utterly dominant.

Leeds-Bradford were routed for 118 first time around and, after Yorkshire declared on 289-2 in their second innings yesterday, they dismissed them for 121 to win with half-an-hour to spare.

“We won eight sessions out of nine and won them well,” added Gillespie.

“Obviously when you lose the toss and get put in on a wicket like that it can go that way, and it’s something we’ve got to be better at.

“There are times when you are going to be faced with conditions that do favour the bowlers and, as a batting squad, we need to find a way to get through those periods.

“But Gary Ballance and Ryan Sidebottom played beautifully to help us recover and our work in general was very impressive.”

Lees went into the final day on 86 and Adam Lyth on 93 after the openers had added 192 on the second afternoon to give Yorkshire a lead of 318.

Lyth reached his century in the day’s second over, made from 203 balls with 13 fours, before falling for 111 when he skied the off-spin of Alex MacQueen to Will Vanderspar at mid-off.

The partnership, worth 221 in 74 overs, was Yorkshire’s seventh-highest for the first-wicket in first-class cricket at Leeds.

After surviving a confident lbw shout on 98 when he failed to connect with an attempted sweep off MacQueen, Lees went to his hundred two balls later when he repeated the shot and this time found the boundary, his milestone achieved from 232 balls with 12 fours. Strong and sturdy, Lees is a powerful driver and puller of the ball and looks to have an excellent temperament.

He batted until 10 minutes before lunch at which point pace man Harry Rouse finally arrowed one through his defences. Sayers made 25 and Andrew Gale nine before the declaration came 25 minutes after the break with Yorkshire 415 ahead.

The students’ reply was soon in trouble when wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow pulled off two fine catches to remove both openers.

Henry Thompson was caught down the leg-side off Plunkett and Nick Gubbins held in front of first slip off Steve Patterson.

When Jonathan Webb was caught in the covers off Plunkett, Daniel Young trapped lbw by Patterson and Luis Reece splendidly caught at mid-on by Jack Brooks off Plunkett, Leeds-Bradford were reeling at 17-5.

It became 38-6 when spinner Azeem Rafiq bowled Rouse but Alex MacQueen and Vanderspar added 43 in 15 overs before MacQueen fell lbw to Ryan Sidebottom.

Plunkett bowled Vanderspar and had Charlie Macleod caught at short-leg before finishing the match by having former Yorkshire pace bowler James Lee held by Sidebottom at backward square-leg. It was a fine start to Plunkett’s Yorkshire career.

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