Sports / Cricket
Zimbabwean born batsman included in England squad
23 Sep 2013 at 10:35hrs | Views
Yorkshire's Zimbabwe-born middle-order batsman included in squad as England go for fourth consecutive Ashes series win.
Gary Ballance, a nephew of former Zimbabwe captain David Houghton, was the surprise inclusion in England's squad for the upcoming Ashes tour down under.
The left-handed batsman made his England debut earlier this month when he fell to a second-ball duck in the Three Lions' one-day victory against Ireland, but is yet to make his Test debut.
The imaginatively-nicknamed 'Gazza' edged Tim Murtagh behind in Malahide, a frustrating start to his international career, but he is nonetheless included at the expense of Nottinghamshire's James Taylor as middle-order back-up.
Ballance,who came to England as a schoolboy, was a key part of Yorkshire's title-chasing side this season and averages 52 with the bat in the County Championship.
His one-day record is even better, with a List A average of 56 and a strike rate 92.43.
The 23-year-old was born in Harare and made five appearances for Zimbabwe's side in the 2006 Under-19s World Cup, before swapping his allegiances to England after a move to Derbyshire.
He moved to Headingley for the 2008 season, but has spent previous winters in his homeland playing for the Mid West Rhinos.
Fellow uncapped pair Boyd Rankin and Ben Stokes join Ballance in the squad.
England's first tour game is a clash with Western Australia XI on October 31st and the five-match Test series against Australia begins at Brisbane on November 21st.
Gary Ballance, a nephew of former Zimbabwe captain David Houghton, was the surprise inclusion in England's squad for the upcoming Ashes tour down under.
The left-handed batsman made his England debut earlier this month when he fell to a second-ball duck in the Three Lions' one-day victory against Ireland, but is yet to make his Test debut.
The imaginatively-nicknamed 'Gazza' edged Tim Murtagh behind in Malahide, a frustrating start to his international career, but he is nonetheless included at the expense of Nottinghamshire's James Taylor as middle-order back-up.
Ballance,who came to England as a schoolboy, was a key part of Yorkshire's title-chasing side this season and averages 52 with the bat in the County Championship.
The 23-year-old was born in Harare and made five appearances for Zimbabwe's side in the 2006 Under-19s World Cup, before swapping his allegiances to England after a move to Derbyshire.
He moved to Headingley for the 2008 season, but has spent previous winters in his homeland playing for the Mid West Rhinos.
Fellow uncapped pair Boyd Rankin and Ben Stokes join Ballance in the squad.
England's first tour game is a clash with Western Australia XI on October 31st and the five-match Test series against Australia begins at Brisbane on November 21st.
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