Ballance exposed again to leave his ‘best mate’ with a dilemma
AS Gary Ballance’s former team-mate Graeme Swann mischievously suggested the Yorkshire batsman was only in the England team because he is ‘best mates’ with the captain, it was impossible to escape the fact that the Zimbabweanborn star remains a largely unloved figure.
The Yorkshireman’s latest contribution at No 3, a mildly promising 27 from 37 balls which briefly threatened to counterpunch England back into this contest alongside skipper Joe Root, did little to silence the growing voices who believe he is technically ill-equipped to flourish in the pivotal No 3 position. The theory, not helped by Swann’s cack-handed assessment in the Test Match Special commentary box is that Ballance, recalled for the first Test after being dropped for the second time in the winter, is receiving preferential treatment because of his friendship with Root, forged at county level.
It is nonsense, of course, but the sense that Ballance’s tenure at No 3 is about as secure as Theresa May’s at No 10, is inescapable.
His glut of run-scoring at county level, which saw him become only the third player to pass 1,000 first-class runs this season midway through his innings yesterday, has earned him a third crack at Test cricket after averaging just 19.9 in his previous six Tests.
But the lukewarm reception his recall for the first Test at Lord’s received was a reflection of the apathy Ballance’s crabby batting style and limpet-like staying powers engender among England supporters.
In truth, England’s management are likely to keep faith with the left-hander for the remainder of this series, with signs his weight transferral had improved slightly in scoring 20 and 34 at Lord’s. But his dismissal yesterday, bowled off his pad for 27 prodding half forward and half-heartedly at Vernon Philander, encapsulated the 27-year-old’s lack of conviction at this level.
Australia’s pace attack will not be losing sleep at the prospect of bowling at a player whose overall Test average of 38.3 has been in steady decline over the past two years.
But while largely unloved among the fans, Ballance is popular in the dressing room and backed by Root. ‘It was hard to look past the number of runs Gary has scored this season,’ the captain said before the Test.
‘He looks as if his game is in good order and a big score is round the corner.’
Root’s preference for batting at No 4 also leaves England without an obvious alternative for the No 3 spot.
The doubts remain, and it is increasingly hard to understand what the question is, if the answer is Gary Ballance.