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1
Adam Lyth
TheYorkshire opener can do no
more than he did in 2014 when
he piled on 1,489 first-class runs
at nearly 68 to helpYorkshire to
their first County Championship
title since 2001. Especially good
on the back foot, the left-hander
is the prime contender to partner
captain Alastair Cook in England’s
nextTest series in the West Indies.
In 23 Championship innings last
summer he managed six fifties and
six centuries and is also a fantastic
slip catcher.
2
Alex Lees
Lyth’s partner in crime at the
top of the order enjoyed his
breakthrough year to earn himself
a spot on the Lions tour to South
Africa.The Halifax-born left-
hander’s 971 runs in the County
Championship, coupled with his
excellent temperament, means that
the 21-year-old is highly regarded.
He also plundered 368 runs in the
Royal London Cup.
3
James Vince
Often compared to Michael
Vaughan due to his graceful and
expansive style, the HampshireT20
skipper enjoyed his best season in
2014 where he smashed 1,525 first-
class runs to engineer Hampshire’s
promotion back to Division One.
In theT20 quarter-final win over
Nottinghamshire the 23-year-old
thumped 93 not out off just 51 balls
before a majestic unbeaten 152 to
save the game against South Africa
A in January for England Lions.
4
Sam Hain
A former Australia Under-19
international at the age of just
16, the Warwickshire teenager has
pledged his future to England after
being spotted playing in Edinburgh
on an exchange trip. He has already
made a huge impact since making
his debut last May, hitting his
maiden century in just his fifth
first-class innings before hitting
208 against Northamptonshire
in September. He’s already been
compared to county colleague
JonathanTrott in his way of
accumulating runs through the
legside.
5
James Hildreth
A consistently good player for
Somerset ever since his debut
in 2003, the middle-order batsman
has racked up nearly 20,000 runs
for the Cidermen. Elegant in his
strokeplay and a brilliant fielder,
the last two seasons have been
average by his standards, but with
a lack of top-class experienced
batsmen around, a return to the
2010–11 form that saw him average
65.45 could see him given an
opportunity.
6
Sam Billings
Another one off the Kent
wicketkeeping production line,
Billings is particularly unlucky
that Jos Buttler has come along at
the same time. Since taking over
the keeping spot from Geraint
Jones at the start of last season,
England possibles
Picking an XI who should, or could,
play for England is an age-old pastime.
DavidSillifant adds his selection
– all uncapped - to the melting pot
Openers
TheXI
billingsis
particularly
unluckythat
josbuttler
hascome
alongatthe
sametime
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24/thecricketer.com