ASHES CHANCE FOR BALLANCE
Yorkshire chief Moxon backs batsman to play his way into England plans
MARTYN MOXON has said that he would be “very surprised” if Gary Ballance is not on the winter Ashes tour as he backed the Yorkshire captain to regain his international place.
The county’s director of cricket is confident that Ballance will be selected to go Down Under as England look to retain the urn.
After regaining his Test place at the start of the international season, Ballance’s England hopes are back in the melting pot after he was unable to nail down a permanent position.
The 27-year-old left-hander managed scores of 20, 34, 27 and four in his two Tests against South Africa and suffered a broken finger in the last of those games at Trent Bridge, denying him further chances at Test level this summer.
However, with doubts persisting over the England top-order, as Mark Stoneman, Tom Westley and Dawid Malan also seek the sort of major contributions that would cement their own positions, Ballance remains a viable alternative for the England selectors.
Prior to his recall, the Zimbabwe-born batsman had scored 815 runs in eight County Championship matches for Yorkshire this season at an average of 101.87, with three centuries and four fifties.
Having been written off by many observers as an international player, Ballance thus made it impossible for the selectors to leave him out through sheer weight of runs.
Although he has not batted in first-team cricket since breaking his left index finger in midJuly, with rain denying him that chance again yesterday when the opening day of Yorkshire’s Championship match against Middlesex at Headingley was washed out, a strong finish to the summer in the final four Championship games could yet produce a similar effect.
“I’d be very surprised if Gary is not on the tour to Australia,” said Moxon, “particularly if he has a good finish to the county season.
“I think he’ll definitely be on the selectors’ minds as it is, and, if he has a good four games for us, I don’t think there’d be any doubt that he’d be picked for the tour.
“He’s a terrific cricketer, as he’s shown all season, and a batsman who has a great deal to offer.
“He’s certainly done an excellent job for us this year.”
Although Ballance’s international recall this season was fully deserved, with England captain Joe Root understood to have championed his corner, there are some observers who believe that Ballance was played out of position by the England management.
The decision to bat him at No 3 was criticised, with Root himself understood to be unwilling to move from his favoured position of No 4, and although Ballance by no means performed poorly against a strong South African attack, he might have prospered to greater effect further down the list.
Moxon’s view is that Ballance is better in a middle-order role.
“I think number five is Gary’s best position,” he said. “I’ve always thought that. I just think he’s better suited to it.
“Having said that, it’s obviously up to England and, clearly, he’s going to play wherever they put him. As for Gary, he’s going to want to bat wherever England want him to, so that’s just the way it goes.
“But, from a personal point of view, I do think he’s better at number five.”
Headingley has been awarded the second and final Test match against Pakistan after the England and Wales Cricket Board announced the major match schedule for next season.
The game will be played from Friday, June 1 to Tuesday June 5, with the first Test taking place at Lord’s from May 24-28.
Headingley will also stage the third and final one-day international against India on Tuesday July 17 with a 12.30pm start, with the first ODI being played at Trent Bridge on July 12 and the second at Lord’s on July 14.
England also play five Tests against India at Edgbaston (Aug 1-5), Lord’s (Aug 9-13), Trent Bridge (Aug 18-22), the Ageas Bowl (Aug 30-Sep 3) and the Oval (Sep 7-11).
There are three T20 internationals against India at Old Trafford (July 3), Cardiff (July 6) and Bristol (July 8).
Australia also tour for five ODIs at the Oval (June 13), Cardiff (June 16), Trent Bridge (June 19), Chester-le-Street (June 21) and Old Trafford (June 24), followed by a T20 international at Edgbaston (June 27). Another jam-packed schedule also contains a one-day international against Scotland at Edinburgh on June 10.
Mark Arthur, the Yorkshire chief executive, said: “Following on from the success of the Test match between England and the West Indies, we are delighted to welcome Pakistan in June next year.
“It is important for the club to engage with the local community and make this game as affordable as possible.
“Therefore, early bird prices will start at £20 for adults, offering great value for those wishing to experience Test match cricket at Headingley.”