Yorkshire Become Collateral as ECB Wastes Adam Lyth's Time

What is the point of taking an uncapped batsman on tour? Often, it’s to hand them a debut. Sometimes, it’s to help a rookie learn about new conditions and soak up the knowledge of those players around him.

Taking a player, especially an uncapped player, on tour and not playing him, does sometimes come with a caveat, though. In the case of Adam Lyth, that caveat has been an enormous waste of his time at the expense of his county Yorkshire.

Lyth was named player of the year at the PCA awards last year, finishing the season with 1,489 runs at an average of 67.68 in 16 matches. He was integral to Yorkshire winning the championship, and his effort with the bat was enough to earn him a call-up to the England squad that is currently on tour to the West Indies.

As the tour has worn on, though, it has become increasingly clear that England have had no intention of handing Lyth his debut.

Instead, an experiment that saw Jonathan Trott take over the opening role has taken root. Trott is not a traditional Test opener, but England seem keen to turn him into one. As noted by Sky Sports, "Trott, normally a No. 3, has struggled, scoring 69 runs in his four innings at an average of 15.75."

While there is nothing wrong with easing Trott back into the team, the fact that England have not allowed Lyth to return to play for his county is irksome.

Yorkshire won their first fixture with ease, but they found it far tougher in the two fixtures that followed, drawing both games. Lyth won’t miss another County Championship fixture, but the fact that the England management staff could not see that it’s far better for a player like Lyth to actually be playing cricket than sitting around in the dressing room is dumbfounding.

Of course, England need back-up players in case there is an injury during play, and they need a substitute fielder, but surely getting an academy player out to the Windies is a better option than robbing a county of one of their star batsmen?

England will take to the field in the third and final Test against the West Indies on Friday, and while it is unlikely for Lyth to make his debut, many have called for him to be given a chance. Former England player Ian Botham was quoted by Sky Sports as saying:

"

England have an opportunity here to play one of the young guys in this final Test. I don't think we need to see anything more from Jonathan Trott in the openers’ position.

He looks very fidgety at the crease, he doesn't look relaxed. Two noughts, a four and a 50 hardly warrants us all jumping up and down and saying 'of course he should be playing'.

I'm surprised they picked him in the first place. Adam Lyth must be wondering what he has to do to play and also Trott didn't open for England before, so why's he opening now? I don't quite understand their thinking.

"

By not giving Lyth a chance, England have not only shot themselves in the foot, they have made life difficult for one of the teams they are supposed to look after. It has been a foolish exercise and a complete waste of Lyth and Yorkshire’s time.

If England were hoping for a “new era” of player management, they have failed their first test.