ALEX Lees expects Yorkshire's production line to carry on feeding England in the years to come after seven of the current first-team squad were handed Lions call-ups earlier this week.

The opening batsman will travel to South Africa in the new year to face South Africa A in first-class and one-day matches, joining Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Jack Brooks, Adam Lyth, Liam Plunkett and Adil Rashid on the trip.

Lees says there are a number of "exciting" youngsters knocking on the door at Headingley – and the left-hander has also hailed the county's coaching staff for their part in a golden period for the white rose county.

"It's testament not only to the lads themselves but to Yorkshire as a club," said 21-year-old Lees.

"To have seven players in, which is half the squad, is unheard of. They keep producing talented cricketers who are there and thereabouts for England calls.

"But it doesn't just stop with this group we've got at the minute. We've got some younger lads coming through, some exciting players who are second team and below.

"The coaching staff we have are pretty special. Producing players who go on (to representative level) is almost like getting a hundred or a five-for for them.

"I haven't worked with every coach around, so it would be unfair to say outright that they're the best, but I don't think there will be too many who are better than what we've got at Yorkshire.

"They are well organised and top cricket coaches. It's everything about them, not just their technical coaching ability. It's also being a top bloke and understanding characters."

While there is obvious pride at Headingley regarding the selections, there is a downside.

A conservative estimate suggests there could be six players selected on a senior Test tour of the West Indies in April and May, which clashes with the opening stages of the 2015 LV= County Championship campaign.

It will be an early test of Yorkshire's title defence, but one which Lees is confident they can handle.

He said: "Yorkshire as a club have lost players before but we have produced players to fill the roles. I'm sure they'll do it again.

"Whoever turns out in that first game, we'll be a very good team."