BALLANCE OUT
Injured batsman misses 3rd Test
Gary Ballance is out of next week’s pivotal third Test against South africa at The Oval after fracturing a finger during england’s defeat at Trent Bridge on Sunday. Ballance was struck on his left index finger by Morne Morkel as england were skittled for 133 and an X-ray has confirmed a hairline fracture.
Though Ballance was ready to play despite the injury, a visit to a hand specialist last night confirmed he will miss the match. He may yet be available for the fourth Test at
From Back Page Old Trafford, but meanwhile England’s selectors must again change their top order before the series, all square at 1-1, resumes a week tomorrow. None of those in contention to make a Test debut in Ballance’s No 3 slot could be described as a young talent. Essex’s Tom Westley is 28, Surrey’s Mark Stoneman is 30 and Dawid Malan of Middlesex is 29. As the sole right-hander in that trio, and with England fielding five left-handers in their top seven at Nottingham, Westley will feature heavily in discussions before the squad is announced later this week. Whoever is chosen, the selectors will not have to move Keaton Jennings down a place so early in his career. Coach Trevor Bayliss has indicated that England’s latest opener deserves a chance to improve a record that has seen him average only 14 since his century on debut against India before Christmas. Bayliss also argued for the retention of Ballance before the extent of his injury was known, despite just two halfcenturies in 25 Test innings. With the prospect of Morkel and Vernon Philander feasting on England’s fragility, Bayliss admitted it was not ideal that he had yet to see Stoneman in the flesh. ‘It’s happened before,’ he said, ‘where if we select a guy and I haven’t seen him, you’ve got in the back of your mind a bit of, “is he or isn’t he?”.’ Why Bayliss has yet to watch a player who is averaging 58 in Division One of the County Championship this season is another matter. And Bayliss’s contention that the prolonged search for Alastair Cook’s opening partner was a ‘concern’ only emphasised the urgency of getting it right. He also argued that picking an extra batsman in place of slow left-armer Liam Dawson would have a downside. ‘The one I’d be concerned about the most is Moeen Ali,’ said Bayliss. ‘If we need eight batters, it’s almost a waste, isn’t it? The fact is we’ve got to do better with the bat.’