Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Adam Lyth drives serenely in last year’s Rothesay County Championship. But it’s another sport which has been causing him issues.
Yorkshire batting star Adam Lyth wandering around Sainsbury’s in Whitby in his full cricket kit?! The pun is unavoidable. A Supermarket Sweep.
It is part of the reason why the White Rose opener has a few butterflies in his belly as we close in on the start of the new county summer.
But don’t worry, they’re nothing to do with bat and ball. County cricket’s quicks certainly don’t frighten the Whitby Lara. However, the prospect of undertaking a third successive fantasy football forfeit certainly does.
You may have seen that earlier in the winter – late October, in fact – Lyth walked out as the mascot for his home town football team Whitby Town ahead of a Northern Premier League clash with Rushall Olympic.
Full kit, holding the hand of captain Michael Woods – the whole shooting match.
It was all part of a Fantasy Premier League football competition he’s involved in with some of his mates back home in North Yorkshire. Basically, the person who is bottom of the table must playfully pay the price.
And that was the predicament Lyth – a man with seven Test caps and almost 16,000 first-class runs to his name – faced.
“Fantasy football has not been my friend for the last two years,” admitted the 38-year-old with a smile.
“It’s a competition with my mates back in Whitby.
“There’s seven of us, and we put a poll up for loser’s forfeit, which has been me for the last two years.
“The first year, I had to go down to Sainsbury’s in Whitby on a Saturday morning in my full Yorkshire kit.
“It was quite busy as well, so that was pretty embarrassing to have to walk around with my pads on, helmet, gloves, the lot.
“Then, the second one, a tattoo was suggested. But I don’t like tattoos. I’d probably get divorced if I got one.
“So I ended up having to walk out as the Whitby mascot.”
While Lyth admits it was “all good fun”, he’d rather avoid next winter’s task.
And there is good news for the Arsenal fan and ex-Manchester City junior trialist. He’s leading the way at the top of the table for this season.
“I don’t want to put the mockers on, but I’m top by a few points,” he added.
“There’s still 20 game weeks to go, so fingers crossed.
“This year’s forfeit, it’s a Boxing Day dip in the North Sea in your speedos.
“It could be minus four or five, windy, snowing. I don’t fancy that one bit, so I’ve got to keep on it.”