Alex Lees limbered up for the start of the LV= County Championship season on Sunday by hitting a sparkling century against Northamptonshire on the second day of Yorkshire’s practice match at Wantage Road.

The 20-year-old opener reached three figures in just 91 balls and his 106 final total included 17 boundaries and a six.

At stumps Yorkshire had been dismissed for 316, a first-innings advantage of 33, and Northants had yet to begin their second innings.

Kane Williamson had to be content with making just 11 runs today but the New Zealander could scarcely be more enthusiastic about the prospect of representing the white rose county this summer.

“To get the opportunity to come back is very nice and it’s something I’ve looked forward to throughout the season in New Zealand,” he said.

“It’s a fantastic set-up and both players and management are excellent. Headingley is a great place to learn your cricket and that really showed with our performances on the park last year.

“Personally it’s a great opportunity for me to learn from the staff and I’m hoping that collectively we can do really well this season.

“You learn a great deal playing so much and in different conditions to the ones I’m used to.”

Yorkshire star Joe Root may not be back in action until the end of the month but there was a moment to savour for the 23-year-old England batsman today when he was named in the prestigious Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack as one of the five cricketers of the year.