Magnificent seven Tykes set for South Africa

LV = County Championship Division One.
Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire.
Yorkshire's players celebrate after winning the championship. From left, Adam Lyth, Adil Rashid, Executive Chairman Colin Graves, Gary Ballance and Liam Plunkett.
12th September 2014. Picture Jonathan Gawthorpe. — LV = County Championship Division One. Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire. Yorkshire's players celebrate after winning the championship. From left, Adam Lyth, Adil Rashid, Executive Chairman Colin Graves, Gary Ballance and Liam Plunkett. 12th September 2014. Picture Jonathan Gawthorpe.

Lyth, who enjoyed a stunning season with the bat, will be joining fellow opener Alex Lees, Gary Ballance, Jonny Bairstow, spinner Adil Rashid and pace duo Liam Plunkett and Jack Brooks on the flight to South Africa in the new year.

It is expected that the Whitby man will be involved in a three-way shoot-out with Lees and Middlesex’s Sam Robson to secure the opening batting slot alongside England captain Alastair Cook for their tour of the West Indies in April 2015.

But Lyth isn’t getting too far ahead of himself and is just keen to impress over the winter months.

He said: “It’s great news for the club that we have seven of us in the Lions squad.

“It’s a very strong squad and it looks like it will be difficult to get into the team, but I’ll just be looking to score big runs and show everyone at the ECB what I can do.

“I’m looking forward to it. We go to Sri Lanka in November, come back for Christmas and then we’re down to business in the new year in South Africa.

“The England tour to the West Indies is a long way off, and it would be nice to be on the plane, but I know I’ll need to score big runs with the Lions to force my way in.”

The former Scarborough Cricket Club man is looking forward to keeping busy over the winter months.

He added: “It’s going to be a busy winter, but I’m looking forward to getting stuck in.”