Ex-Scarborough batsman Lyth handed Test call-up

Yorkshire CCC batsman and Scarborough News columnist Adam Lyth has been named in the England Test squad for their tour of the West Indies.

Lyth has been pushing for a call-up for several years now, and the former Scarborough CC left-hander will see plenty of familiar faces on the tour as he is joined by his Yorkshire teammates Gary Ballance, Joe Root, Adil Rashid, Jonathan Bairstow and Liam Plunkett in the touring party.

Lyth, who is on tour in Dubai with Yorkshire, said: “I was at Richard Pyrah’s Benefit function in Dubai when I received the call from chairman of selectors James Whitaker.

“I was hoping for it and when it came I was shocked. It still hasn’t sunk in.

“I am very excited and can’t wait to join the England lads next month.

“I have made many sacrifices to get to this position. I hope that I can now become a Test player in the Caribbean.

“The next step is to impress the captain and coach and hopefully get selected for that first game.

“If that happens, it would rank as probably my biggest achievement in cricket.

“I had a positive England Lions tour where I felt I batted well against strong opposition in South Africa.

“I just need to be given the opportunity to do it on the Test stage and hopefully that will start in the West Indies.”

Speaking from the Y15 Tourism Conference at The Spa, former England wicketkeeper Matt Prior backed Lyth’s call-up. Prior told The Scarborough

News: “He deserves his chance as he has done very well and now he gets the chance to prove himself at the highest level.”