Lyth’s UAE hopes are pinned on Tykes runs

Having been a part of the Ashes-winning side, Lyth is now keen to return to Yorkshire and finish the season with a bang after struggling throughout the series, the left-hander averaging just 12.77.

Lyth said: “I don’t really pay attention to people talking about who will open in the UAE with Alastair Cook, it’s completely out of my hands who the selectors pick.

“I know exactly what I have to do and that is score big runs for Yorkshire, it’s as simple as that.”

The left-hander isn’t making excuses for his poor form in the series, but is instead hoping to bounce back with some valuable time in the middle for Yorkshire.

“It could have gone better on a personal note but that’s cricket and that can happen when you’re facing one of the best attacks in the world on testing pitches.

“Going forwards I have learnt a lot in this series and hopefully I can go back to Yorkshire, score some runs and help them with the County Championship.

“There’s no getting away from the fact it’s been a tough few games and a tough few weeks but I have to bounce back from it and I know I’ll do that.

“I’m aiming to score lots of runs for Yorkshire between now and the end of the season and hopefully get a spot on a winter tour but I can’t control that, I just need to score large volumes of runs.

“I can’t really put my low scores down to one thing. The Aussies have bowled well in testing conditions, I have copped some decent balls but I’ve played some bad shots which I’m disappointed about but that’s cricket and you go through spells like that.

“I’m not one to point at excuses at all, I’ve been hitting the ball well all summer but I just haven’t done it out in the middle in this Ashes series.

“I know I’m good enough at this level, I scored a very good hundred against a fantastic New Zealand attack on a testing wicket at Headingley.

“I can do it, it’s just about doing it consistently and I didn’t manage to do that at all against Australia.”

Lyth admits winning the Ashes is a feeling he will never forget and described it as the ‘highlight of his career’.

The former Scarborough batsman added: “It was great to be part of an Investec‎Ashes‬series, to win 3-2 and lift the urn at the Oval was very, very special and is something I will never forget.

“It’s without a doubt the highlight of my career.

“Lifting the urn was even better than I imagined. To get the pictures with the urn and my wife, mum and dad in the changing room are memories I will never forget.

“I grew up as a kid watching the Ashes and all I wanted to do is be up on that stage so it was great to be part of something which is the pinnacle for anyone who has played for England Cricket.

“There have been a lot of fantastic players to have played for England for a long time and have never won an Ashes series.”