Michael Vaughan unhappy with Gary Ballance's callup in South Africa series

Former English Test captain Michael Vaughan criticized the selection of Yorkshire batsman Gary Ballance in the English squad for the forthcoming Test series against the South Africans starting on Thursday, July 6. Vaughan claimed that the Yorkshireman has been found wanting when it comes to facing raw pace.

In the 21 Test matches the Zimbabwe-born left-hander has amassed as many as 1413 runs at an average of just a shy under 40. In his short Test career so far, he has already added four centuries and seven half-centuries to his name. But the southpaw has not been able to retain his place in the side due to his inconsistency.

“But in this season of the County Championship, Ballance has been in a remarkable form after piling on a whopping 815 runs at an average of 101.87. Vaughan admitted that the southpaw has been in prime form but stated that facing the likes Morkel, Rabada, and Philander is a different proposition altogether.

“Ballance batting at three worries me. He is in fine confident form with a volume of runs for Yorkshire behind him but (Morne) Morkel, (Kagiso) Rabada and Vernon Philander are a different proposition. When he had to face three bowlers consistently bowling at more than 85mph (137 kph) he was found out.Ballance deserves to come back in given the runs he’s scored in the Championship but I’d hide him away from the new ball a little bit at five,” claimed Michael Vaughan according to The Telegraph.

Ballance found support in Nasser Hussain who has been vocal about the Yorkshireman’s selection. “Ballance deserves to come back in given the runs he’s scored in the Championship but I’d hide him away from the new ball a little bit at five” stated Hussain.

England squad for the first Test:

Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Liam Dawson, Keaton Jennings, Toby Roland-Jones, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood.