England v Pakistan: Yorkshire's Gary Ballance will be keen to prove his credentials on return to Test scene

Ballance is back at HQ to face Pakistan in the first Investec Test, having been dropped just under a year ago when his form deserted him and he found himself the fall-guy for a crushing mid-Ashes defeat.

It was on his previous visit to Lord’s, though – during the Test against New Zealand – that he encountered a snag when he needed to pop back to the pavilion at close of play.

Minor insult was being added to the significant injury of his scores of one and nought, part of a sequence of just one half-century in his last 10 Test innings.

The 26-year-old must now restate his credentials in England’s middle order against a well-balanced and skilful Pakistan attack this summer.

The selectors have kept up lines of communication throughout with Ballance, including him again for the Test tour of South Africa last winter when he did not get the chance to add to his 15 caps.

He was nonetheless surprised to get the call to say he was back for the start of this series.

As for that failure to convince the pavilion staff of his propriety last May, Ballance does not appear scarred for life.

“I’m not very recognisable, am I?” he asked, with a smile. “I had to get a few of the England security down to let me in.

“I was coming back in to get a bag...wearing full England (training) kit. But the lady at the desk was like ‘not today, you’re not coming in without a tie’.”

It was not too much of a shock for the Yorkshire batsman.

“It didn’t bother me one bit...it happens at Headingley all the time,” he added.

“I didn’t think I was meant to be [wearing a pass] but I hope I get given one this time around, and I’m let into a place of work.”

What he does when he gets there will, of course, be more of a concern to Ballance and England.

He returns on the back of a County Championship century, and still has a Test average of almost 48.

There was a chorus of disapproval from pundits for his deep-in-the-crease technique, though, by the time he departed the scene last time.

Ballance could hardly help take it to heart, but is hoping his response – taking some advice on board, but still sticking broadly to his trusted methods – will serve him well.

“If you’re not scoring runs you’re going to get criticised,” he said.

“I’m big enough to accept criticism, work on stuff and hope to get better from it.”

He has resisted a complete overhaul.

Ballance continued: “There’s so much outside pressure, so much scrutiny when you’re not going well, that you feel forced to (change). (But) you go away from what you’re actually good at.

“I know it’s not perfect, and I need to adjust and work on a few things, but you have to do what you think is best for yourself – and if not’s good enough, so be it.”

It hit him hard when he was dropped, but he is grateful he was never cast adrift by England’s management.

“I was absolutely gutted, of course...at times last year I was so uptight and found it a massive pressure. You question your ability for a while.

“But I got the backing of the selectors and the coaches to go to South Africa.

“They always said ‘how’s your form going? Get a few runs, and you’ll be back in the mix’.”

It was still a surprise when national selector James Whitaker rang him last week to tell him the time had come.

“The phone call was a great feeling,” Ballance said.

“I’ve been on the end of a few saying ‘you’re not involved this time around’ – so to get the good news was great.

“I didn’t even know the squad was getting announced that day, but it’s great to be back.”

Ballance is ready for all that entails, including the familiar quickening of the pulse when he has to prove himself in the middle again.

“I’m nervous every time I bat,” he said. “Whether it’s a club game or a Yorkshire game, I’m nervous every time.

“I’ll be nervous – but it’ll be a good nervous.”