Yorkshire gamble on Ballance captaincy

Yorkshire have gambled on the anticipated dwindling of Gary Ballance’s Test career, at least in the short term, by appointing him captain in all three formats.

Ballance’s appointment represents the first major decision by Yorkshire’s new head coach, Andrew Gale, and ends weeks of conjecture about whether Ballance’s leadership role can remain undisrupted by further England calls.

Alex Lees, who was hailed as Yorkshire’s youngest official captain since Lord Hawke, one of the county’s most iconic figures, when he took charge of the limited-overs formats in 2016, has relinquished the role after only one season.

Ballance, at 27, still retains the drive to add to his 21 Tests, but he has been omitted from England’s line-up throughout the India series, so much out of contention that it is questionable whether there has been any purpose in him remaining on tour.

“When Andrew Gale called me, it was impossible to turn down. Being captain is something that I enjoy doing and hopefully I will do a good job for Yorkshire and follow on from the good work that Galey has done over the years.

“I’m experienced now, I have played a bit of cricket over the years, so I have seen how different captains work. I think that I am a calm person and like to think that I have a decent cricket brain. I’m not a massive speaker, but I will be looking to lead by example on the field and get the lads to follow me.”

It must be challenging nevertheless to accept a job with total conviction when deep down you are hoping that you might bat so well you will make yourself …

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