Yorkshire CCC - Gary Ballance backed by Jason Gillespie to regain Test spot

YORKSHIRE first-team coach Jason Gillespie insists that Gary Ballance is ready to return to the England Test side.
Yorkshire's Gary BallanceYorkshire's Gary Ballance
Yorkshire's Gary Ballance

Ballance was dropped in the Ashes last summer in a move that took Gillespie by surprise.

The former Australia fast bowler felt that Ballance – who averages 47 from 15 Tests – had done enough to keep his place.

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As the countdown continues towards the Test summer, he is backing him to make a swift return.

“Gary’s already shown his class in Test cricket and he can do it again,” said Gillespie.

“He’s taken the England decision on the chin and just cracked on, which is all you can do, and I would love to see him afforded another opportunity.

“To be honest, I was a bit surprised that he was dropped.

“I certainly don’t have an issue with selection decisions as long as there is clear dialogue with the player, as there has been in this case, and I know from being involved in selection myself at Yorkshire that sometimes decisions are tough and that not everyone agrees with them, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion.”

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Gillespie was not alone in thinking that Ballance deserved to keep his Test spot.

The 26-year-old left-hander made no bones about his own displeasure after being dropped after the second Test at Lord’s, despite having hit 61 in the first Test at Cardiff.

Only three months earlier, Ballance had become the third-fastest England player to 1,000 Test runs after fellow Yorkshire batsmen Herbert Sutcliffe and Len Hutton.

However, he paid for perceived technical flaws that were ruthlessly highlighted by television pundits.

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“I am biased,” added Gillespie. “I want to see the Yorkie lads stay in the England side.

“I was disappointed for Gaz because I thought he made an important 60-odd in tough conditions in Cardiff, and on the back of what he’d already done (in Test cricket) up to that point, I felt he probably deserved a bit more of an opportunity.

“But that’s the way selection goes, and Gary has certainly received good communication from England regarding the decision.”

Ballance averaged 40-plus in both Championship and List A cricket after returning to Yorkshire last summer, and he began 2016 with a bang by scoring a century in the Champion County game against MCC in Abu Dhabi.

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He now has four Championship matches in which to impress prior to next month’s first Test against Sri Lanka at Headingley.

“Players will be in charge of their own destiny in this first month of Championship cricket leading into the first Test,” said Gillespie.

“Whoever is performing and scoring runs will be afforded an opportunity, and we’d like to see one of our own be given that chance.

“Gary performed very well throughout our pre-season tour, and, hopefully, he can put some more runs on the board in early season.

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“He’s had a taste of international cricket and definitely wants more of it, plain and simple.”

Competition for places will be heightened after the sad news that Notts and England batsman James Taylor has been forced to retire with a serious heart condition.

Gillespie expressed sympathy for a man who is only just over six weeks younger than Ballance.

“It’s still news that I think all of us in the game of cricket are coming to terms with,” said Gillespie.

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“James has worked his butt off to be afforded opportunities and was just starting to have a bit of success with the England shirt on.

“It’s devastating for the man, and we all really feel for him.

“It’s terrible because you grow up as a young kid with dreams of representing your county and your country, and then just as it’s all starting to come to fruition, this happens.”

As the clock ticks down to the Test match season, Gillespie also backed Jonny Bairstow to build on his breakthrough international winter.

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The Yorkshireman came of age as an international player, achieving his dream of a maiden Test hundred in the match against South Africa at Cape Town in January.

“I think that getting that first Test hundred was a bit of a weight off Jonny’s shoulders, and, hopefully, that can kick him on to some more success with the bat,” said Gillespie.

“Hopefully, it’s the start of some good, solid performances from him coming in in that middle order.

“I just think England are on a massive winner with regard to Jonny.

“They’ve got him coming in at No 7, and he can just go out and play his natural game in all conditions.”