ADAM LYTH described his 15th first-class century as one of his most important after helping to put Yorkshire in pole position at the end of day two against the MCC in Abu Dhabi.

Lyth believes the presence of England Test captain Alastair Cook in the opposition line-up at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium means that this hundred ranks alongside any of the other seven he has scored in the last 12 months.

The left-handed opener scored 113 of Yorkshire’s 372 as they replied to the MCC’s day one 221 all out. The MCC then responded with 13-0 from five second innings overs.

Lyth hit 12 fours in 190 balls and was ably backed up by half-centuries for Andrew Hodd (57) and Stamford Bridge all-rounder Will Rhodes, whose 61 continued an excellent first-class debut.

Lyth started the day by sharing 91 for the third wicket with nightwatchman and room-mate Steve Patterson (36) before Hodd and Rhodes added 104 for the sixth against an attack minus Durham new ball bowler Graham Onions due to a groin injury.

“It’s just a great way to start the season,” said the 27-year-old, who went from 92 to 104 before lunch with three successive fours against seamer Chris Rushworth.

“To get a hundred in the first first-class game of the season, with the pink ball under lights, which is difficult, and in front of the England captain is really pleasing.

“It would have been nice to have gone on and got a big one, but I’d have taken 113 at the start of the game.

“In my career, it’s probably up there with one of the most important hundreds that I’ve scored with him watching. Alastair said 'well played' to me, which was nice of him.

“Obviously, in a few days we fly out (to the West Indies), so hopefully I’ve impressed him and you never know what might happen over the next few weeks.”

Patterson agrees with Lyth that today was important to his Test hopes.

“I don’t know whether he will play, but I hope he does,” he said. “A lot of people are saying that Jonathan Trott will play. I’ve heard Ian Botham and Bob Willis say that.

“But I think he deserves to play. He can’t have done much more than he has done, and I certainly don’t think it will have done him any harm at all here. It’s going to be a toss up between two, but he's shown what he’s capable of.”

Lyth’s England selection leaves Yorkshire with an opener to find for the opening match at Worcester, so it would have been encouraging for Jason Gillespie to have watched two leading candidates for the role bat for a short period against the second new ball.

Rhodes is thought to be the most likely candidate for the role given that Hodd will be keeping wicket as well.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire have confirmed that Pakistan batsman Younus Khan will fulfil his commitments as their early season overseas player despite Pakistan being set to tour Bangladesh next month.