Yorkshire’s opening batsman Adam Lyth has been urged to tighten up his game by captain Andrew Gale in a bid to replicate last season’s stunning form in the LV= County Championship.

The 23-year-old left-hander has not scored a hundred in six four-day matches this term, only adding three fifties.

“Lythy’s been a bit loose,” said Gale. “He’s probably searching for the ball a bit too much. He’s got to work harder.

“People work you out quicker, set better fields and bowl better lines to find your weaknesses. He’s got to work harder to combat those weaknesses.”

England Lions man Lyth has not exactly been out of touch as he has scored 283 runs from six matches. But, having set such high standards early last summer, the contrast is startling.

After six matches of the last campaign he had scored 622 runs, including five half-centuries and one ton.

That hundred – 142 off 215 balls – came against Somerset at Taunton, the same fixture that Yorkshire start tomorrow.

Having also scored 93 off 170 balls in the second innings of a match Yorkshire lost, Lyth said: “Taunton’s generally a nice wicket to bat on, so hopefully I can get a big score to kick-start things.

“I’ve been striking the ball pretty well and haven’t been getting the rewards. I’ve been getting out in any way possible. That’s been the disappointing thing.

“I’ve got three or four fifties now, but just haven’t pushed on.”

The best example of Lyth finding any possible way to get out was in Sunday’s Clydesdale Bank 40 win over Worcestershire at New Road. He ran himself out going for a suicidal two as he tried to bring up his fifty, falling for 49.

But the signs of a good run of form are definitely there.

Gale added: “You still saw those big booming cover drives at the start of the game (against Lancashire at Liverpool last week).

“On a wet pitch, he was still able to drive Jimmy Anderson for four.

“He looked in great touch in the second innings too, but a loose shot cost him again. The thing is with batting, you only get one chance.”