JASON Gillespie has backed calls for Adam Lyth to become the latest Yorkshire player to be called into the England set-up after his sixth championship century of the season put them on course for a title victory.

Lyth's superb 122 allowed Yorkshire to finish the opening day against Nottinghamshire on 319-4 having entered the Trent Bridge match 26 points ahead of their opponents, needing only to ensure they match their points tally to win their first championship since 2001.

It took Lyth's tally to 1,428 championship runs in 21 innings and, although England do not have any Test cricket until their tour of the West Indies in April, Gillespie believes the Whitby-born opener is ready to join Yorkshire team-mates Joe Root, Gary Ballance and Liam Plunkett in Test cricket.

"He's a little bit older now and had a number of years in first-class cricket learning his game and developing his game and if he got his opportunity I'm sure he'd grab it with both hands," said Gillespie.

Lyth set the tone for Yorkshire's dominant day by forging a 176-run opening stand with Alex Lees after Root, leading the side in the absence of suspended captain Andrew Gale, chose to bat first after winning the toss.

Yet the day could have been so different had Lyth not been given a reprieve from the second ball of the match, edging seamer Luke Fletcher behind only for Chris Read, Nottinghamshire's wicketkeeper and captain, to fumble the catch.

It was one of three missed chances before lunch with Lees also dropped on 20 and 45 by Riki Wessels at short leg off Gary Keedy, the former Yorkshire and Lancashire left-arm spinner.

The partnership was finally broken by the same combination with Lees pushing forward defensively on 86, only for Wessels to make amends with a superb one-handed catch.

After losing his prolific partner, Lyth continued to claim yet another century in this extraordinary season for him but then mistimed an attempted drive and Keedy was able to take a return catch above his head.

The new ball accounted for Root, given lbw to Harry Gurney – although TV replays suggested it may have missed the stumps – while Jonny Bairstow gave a leading edge off Fletcher and was brilliantly caught by Michael Lumb in the gully.

But Yorkshire finished the day at Trent Bridge poised to take advantage of their strong position with Ballance progressing almost under the radar to finish unbeaten on 82.