ALEX LEES expects Yorkshire’s production line to carry on feeding England in the years to come after seven of the current first-team squad were handed Lions call-ups earlier this week.

The 21-year-old opening batsman will travel to South Africa in the New Year to face South Africa 'A' in first-class and one-day matches, joining Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Jack Brooks, Adam Lyth, Liam Plunkett and Adil Rashid on the trip.

Lees says there are a number of “exciting” youngsters knocking on the door at Headingley, and the left-hander has also hailed the county’s coaching staff for their part in a golden period for the White Rose.

“It’s testament not only to the lads themselves, but to Yorkshire as a club,” he said. “To have seven players in, which is half the squad, is unheard of. They keep producing talented cricketers who are there and there abouts for England calls.

“But it doesn’t just stop with this group we’ve got at the minute. We’ve got some younger lads coming through, some exciting players who are second team and below.

“The coaching staff we have is pretty special. Producing players who go on is almost like getting a hundred or a five-for for them. They are producing players of high quality, and that’s got to be pretty pleasing for them.

“I haven’t worked with every coach around, so it would be unfair to say outright that they’re the best, but I don’t think there will be too many who are better than what we’ve got at Yorkshire.

“They are well organised and top cricket coaches. It’s everything about them, not just their technical coaching ability. It’s also being a top bloke and understanding characters.”

With a senior England Test tour of the West Indies due next April and May, their promises to be plenty of competition during the five-week tour of South Africa, not just against South Africa 'A', but within the Lions squad too.

It has been suggested by many, for example, that Lees is in a three-way shootout with Lyth and current incumbent Sam Robson of Middlesex for an opener’s berth alongside captain Alastair Cook.

“If I’m honest, I haven’t really thought about that, although it is a pretty open slate at the minute and performances will be quite important. I just want to concentrate on my next task, which is the Performance Programme tour to Sri Lanka before Christmas,” he said.

While there is obvious pride at Headingley regarding the selections, there is a downside. A conservative estimate suggests there could be six players on that West Indies tour, which clashes with the opening stages of the 2015 LV= County Championship campaign.

It will be an early test of Yorkshire’s title defence, but one which Lees is confident they can handle.

“Yorkshire as a club have lost players before, but we have produced players to fill the roles. I’m sure they’ll do it again,” he added. “Whoever turns out in that first game, we’ll be a very good team.”