Ballance gets nod as England’s No 3

Captain Alastair Cook confirmed the 24-year-old would come in at first drop in the first Investec Test, with Ian Bell and Joe Root set to follow in the middle order.

When England last played the longer format, the fifth and final Test of the Ashes whitewash in Australia, Ballance batted at five in the first innings, due to a nightwatchman, and four in the second knock.

Bell, a veteran of 98 Tests, went in ahead of him on both occasions but will not now take over the role held for several years by his Warwickshire colleague Jonathan Trott.

Cook, who will open alongside debutant Sam Robson, was untypically ready to confirm the make-up of the top six - a move that would have been anathema under the secretive Andy Flower reign.

Asked where Ballance would bat, Cook said: “Gary will bat at three, Belly at four, Rooty at five and Mo (Moeen Ali) at six.”

As well as clarifying the batting order, Cook effectively confirmed the team, with Chris Woakes the likely odd man out.

After years of guarding even the most obvious facts under Flower, Cook’s eve-of-match admission rang true with new head coach Peter Moores’ change of style.