WE MAY be a bit biased at Yorkshire, but I think we could make a very good case for suggesting that we have signed the best batsman in the world in Kane Williamson as our overseas player for a portion of this season.

I think it’s probably between Kane and Virat Kohli at present, and Kane is certainly the most consistent. He scores runs seemingly every game.

He is certainly a great addition to our squad. He’s not here for too long through the middle of the summer, but when he is he will be well worth it.

I think he will give us a little bit more consistency through all three forms than we perhaps had last year.

He has been so consistent for the last three years, and he will bring that stability that he gave us when he was here the year before last and the year before that.

As much as we can, we obviously try to pick from the same pool of overseas players that serve us well so that they fit straight back into the team.

After a short time, it will be like he hasn’t been away. The lads enjoy his company as well, which helps massively.

It’s going to be a pretty hectic part of the season through June and July, so we will get our value out of him.

With a player like that, even if it’s for a short space of time, you’d prefer to have them than not.

We are quite fortunate that we have a big squad with a lot of quality in there, and that means we can afford to go through parts of the season without an overseas if we can’t get the right one in.

Some teams almost rely on an overseas to fulfil a role for the full season. It’s more about us adding to our quality rather than filling a position.

In that respect, we can afford to just have him for a month. Whenever he’s available, it’s too good an opportunity to turn down.

Kane is a really laid back character. You can probably tell that from his demeanour. He doesn’t say things for the sake of it. So when he speaks, people listen.

I think he’s an all-round great guy. I don’t think many people have a bad word to say about him through international cricket, never mind county cricket. On top of that, he’s a match-winner as well. He is selfless and is all for the team.

He is very open on what his values are when you speak to him and is great to learn from.

I have spoken to him in the past, and will do in the future. It’s great for players young and old to have someone like that around who you can work closely with.

********************************

I see no reason why England can’t get through to a semi-final and final at the World Twenty20 in India next month. They could even win it.

They are playing some really exciting, fearless cricket in the limited-overs arena, and that has been demonstrated by their form in the one-dayers in South Africa.

The batting line-up has great strength in depth. That is highlighted by the likes of Jonny Bairstow and James Taylor being sat on the sidelines. The bowling attack is also very exciting and packed with young guys such as Reece Topley and David Willey.

It looks, from the outside looking in, that Trevor Bayliss has just given them a new lease of life.

With the bat, David Willey has had to fulfil a slightly different role than he is perhaps used to in Twenty20 cricket this winter, both for England and Perth.

He has regularly opened the batting for Northants in Twenty20 cricket, but has batted down the order this winter.

Referring to Perth, they are very strong in the opening department with Michael Klinger, Michael Carberry, who can do that role but didn’t play all their Big Bash games, and Shaun Marsh.

You can see why they didn’t use him up top. It’s tough for them to get him in there.

At Yorkshire, we have a few opening options, but he’s too good not to put him there. We have every intention of using him as an opener, and hopefully he will be explosive.

I don’t think he will necessarily open for us in one-day cricket, although that’s something we haven’t made a final decision on yet.

We’ve got Adam Lyth and myself at the top, and David may be better whacking it over the ropes towards the back end of the innings.

* Alex Lees column is sponsored by Pennine Business Partners, who are skilled and experienced marketing, human resources and health and safety specialists. The focus of our business is your business – we add value to your team and deliver an excellent return on investment, by providing proactive support to help reduce the stresses and pitfalls of running a business. For more information, visit www.penninebusinesspartners.com