ALEX Lees' name was on thousands of lips as the 2015 county championship season dawned 12 months ago.

The tall left-hander was about to embark on his year of consolidation after a breakthrough summer at the top of the Yorkshire order alongside Adam Lyth.

England, meanwhile – then as now – were conducting their search for an opening partner who might keep Test captain Alastair Cook company for more than a few overs, and therefore in excess of a handful of matches too.

Lees was still only 21 yet, thanks to a chorus of approval led by Yorkshire's former England opener Geoff Boycott, was top of many lists.

Lyth figured too, of course, and eventually got the nod for what would be a curiously mixed summer as another Cook ally was cast aside despite becoming an Ashes-winner en route.

In fact, it was the more diminutive and wristy Lyth who all along could present the more compelling statistical credentials – having topped Yorkshire's averages in 2014, the first of their back-to-back title-winning seasons.

Lees' figures were also persuasive – almost 1,000 Division One runs at more than 44 per innings – but it was the wisdom of Boycott et al which appeared to speak most in his favour.

Lyth's century, and Lees' failure, in the presence of Cook himself as Yorkshire beat the MCC in the season curtain-raiser in Abu Dhabi perhaps went some way to clinching the deal.

Although Lyth went on to make a century on his home ground in only his second Test, by the end of the summer it seemed like the break could not come quickly enough for either of Yorkshire's two out-of-form openers.

Lees, admirably, makes no bones about his under-performance in 2015 – when he finished with 11 Yorkshire batsmen above him in the championship averages, and Lyth conspicuously two below him.

"I had a poor season last year," he said.

"My job is to score consistent runs for Yorkshire again."

The club have demonstrated their faith in the home-grown batsman from Halifax by making him their new limited-overs captain.

To that role, and his most pressing task as a batsman, he will bring an impressive honesty.

"I'm a strong believer in personal responsibility," Lees added.

"Your form, runs, it's ultimately down to you.

"Having a good chemistry, good rapport with somebody – and opening bowlers knowing they have to be spot on – goes some of the way.

"But ultimately, the buck stops with me – and there's nowhere really to hide."

Lees, recently turned 23, traces his loss of form to a mental weariness with an occupation he nonetheless insists he loves.

"At some stages last year, I probably wasn't looking forward to it as previously I had been," he said.

"Batting is one of my passions, and I enjoy scoring runs. This year, I'm sure I'll have that same sort of ambition and desire I've had previous years."

He is banking on feeling refreshed for the new campaign, and this time – after a first-innings duck in the desert – he made 86 out of 279 all out as Yorkshire lost by four wickets to MCC.

"The biggest thing for me last year was that probably mentally I was fatigued," he said.

"I'd played consistently for two-and-a-half years, without a real break.

"Coming into the season and wanting to play, and coming into the season and having to play, are obviously two different things.

"I think this rest will have done me the world of good, and on a personal level I'm really looking forward to batting again."

He is wise enough already, though, to take nothing for granted.

"I understand that players go through these periods," he said.

"I think probably in all walks of life, you have some point in your career where you're maybe not having as good a time.

"It's the same in sport. It's something at the time you don't enjoy, but then you reflect ... and can use that information to make yourself a better person and a better cricketer.

"I'm not naive. I don't believe I'm going to average 50 for the next 10 years.

"You don't know what's round the corner; you might have two terrible years and find yourself wanting another club ..."

That is a dose of realism indeed, but Lees is not pessimistic.

"I've had a rest now, recharged my batteries," he continued.

"My main aim is to get back to scoring heavily.

"In the previous winter with the Lions, I probably got a little bit crouched – a little bit of a wider base – which made me not line the ball up as well as I'd like so I'll be looking to stay a little bit taller again."

All of Yorkshire, whatever the specifics of his necessary technical tweaks, will be hoping Lees does just that.