Former England opener Marcus Trescothick believes Adam Lyth has a big future in the game.

The Yorkshire left-hander, who also faces the new ball at the top of the order in the LV= County Championship this summer, has got tongues wagging with an inspired start to the summer.

Thrown in at the deep end by Andrew Gale and Martyn Moxon after Jacques Rudolph asked to be moved down to number four, there were question marks as to whether Lyth could forge a successful opening partnership with Joe Sayers.

But the 22-year-old, who will play against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl today, has answered them emphatically by scoring 622 runs from six four-day matches, including 235 against Trescothick’s Somerset side at Taunton last week.

The Somerset captain said: “Lyth is scoring heavily, which is very important for a youngster. As the leading run scorer in the division, he is doing a lot right.

“He has got to keep it up and keep backing himself to do well because, while it is great to have this form, I know how quickly it can leave you. I hope he makes the most of it, and I will be keeping a watch on him to see how he goes for the rest of the season because I think he is a great talent.”

Lyth’s innings of 142 and 93 at Taunton were in vain as a special unbeaten century from James Hildreth gave the hosts another victory against the White Rose chasing a sizeable fourth innings total.

After five scores between 50 and 100, his first innings century last Monday was a career best – and only the second of his first-class career.

The Whitby-born former England under-19s batsman also hit 90 against Trescothick’s men in an early season victory at Headingley.

Having spent a small portion of the winter at the England Performance Programme camp in South Africa, there is no doubt the national selectors are aware of the Scarborough CC player’s potential.

Trescothick added: “If he ends up getting 1,500 runs plus, then the world is his oyster. Good luck to him, but he has got to keep this level of performance up – and go up a level as well.”

Captain Gale is back on Yorkshire duty after his appearance for the England Lions at Derby last week, while Tino Best has passed a fitness test after a few recent niggles.