Westley replaces injured Ballance in England’s batting line-up to face South Africans

Essex batsman Tom Westley will replace the injured Gary Ballance in next week’s third Investec Test against South Africa and could be joined in the England side by a second newcomer, Middlesex’s Dawid Malan.

Both are in a 13-man squad to face the Proteas at the Kia Oval following the 340-run defeat at Trent Bridge but there is familiar disappointment for Surrey’s Mark Stoneman as misfiring opener Keaton Jennings is retained.

The selectors have taken the unusual step of confirming Westley’s place in the side, and batting order, after Ballance was ruled out with a fractured finger, but Malan has no such promise and will go head to head with spin-bowling allrounder Liam Dawson.

If head coach Trevor Bayliss and captain Joe Root decide a second slow-bowling option is necessary alongside Moeen Ali, Dawson will continue his unexpected stint in the team, with Malan on hand as an alternative option to bolster the batting.

Malan’s county teammate Toby Roland-jones, a third uncapped squad member,willchallengemarkwood for his place in the side, the latter having struggled for form in the series but been passed fit after a heel complaint. The call-up for Westley, pictured, has much to recommend it, not least his right-handedness, with Alastair Cook, Jennings and Ballance all left-handers. His long-time county association with Cook can also do him no harm and it is just two months since the pair scoredtwinhundredsina243run stand against Hampshire at Chelmsford.

Form-wise, Westley averages 53.11 in the Specsavers County Championship, with two centuries, and just as importantly made 106 not out against the touring Proteas attack for England Lions at Worcester.

An England and Wales Cricket Board statement read: “Essex’s Tom Westley is set to earn his first cap, with selectors confirming he will bat at number three in the 100th Test at the Oval. Middlesex batsman Dawid Malan is also included in the squad for the first time and could feature if England decide to select an extra batsman when they confirm their starting line-up next week.”

Malan was thought to be close to selection at the start of the series, having made a strong impression on the England management with his 78 on his Twenty20 debut against the South Africans last month.