Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale has suggested that his county teammate Gary Ballance has been unfairly omitted from the England Test squad.
Ballance was dropped from the side midway through the Ashes series following a dip in form, and he has also missed out on a place in the 16-man squad for the forthcoming three-match series against Pakistan.
Gale has claimed that the England selectors have been too quick to discard the batsman.
"I'm so disappointed for Gaz. He's got an unbelievable record. I think he's been harshly treated, and I'm really disappointed with the ECB for that," Gale told ESPN.
"I strongly disagree with the decision they've made. He's got a proven record at that level, and yet they've picked James Taylor ahead of him. As much as I love 'Titch', I think Gaz deserves a chance to get back in that squad and prove again what he did before.
"He's a mentally strong lad is Gaz and a pretty level-headed guy. Knowing him as I do, he'll take it in his stride and come back much stronger."
Ballance has scored 1,194 runs in 15 Tests for England at an average of 47.76.
Steven Toplis
