Scarborough has long been renowned for its restorative qualities, and Gary Ballance and Toby Roland-Jones are the latest cricketers to reap the benefits of the sea air at North Marine Road.
The morning after a heavyweight showdown in the Specsavers County Championship between Yorkshire and Middlesex, both received a welcome call from James Whitaker, England’s National Selector.
It is a new territory for Roland-Jones, the 28-year-old seamer who already had a soft spot for Yorkshire after studying at Leeds University, and who has been rewarded for his consistency over several seasons culminating in a stunning all-round performance that fired Middlesex to the top of the Division One table.
Now he is contention for a Test debut at Lord’s, the ground he knows best – while Ballance, who scored his first century of the season in Yorkshire’s first home Championship defeat since 2013, is relishing the prospect of returning to St John’s Wood after scoring a century in each of his first two Tests there, against Sri Lanka and India in 2014.
“I was just doing a bit of grocery shopping when I got the call from James Whitaker – just a standard Thursday morning!” joked Ballance, who still expects to play for Yorkshire Vikings in their home NatWest T20 Blast fixture against Birmingham Bears on Friday night before focusing on the resumption of his international career.
“It’s all come as a bit of a surprise. Obviously it’s a great feeling to be back in the squad, especially when you’ve been out of the side for a while. It was about this time last year when I got left out, and it does feel like a long time ago.”
Lord’s was not such a happy hunting ground for Ballance in 2015, as his run of 15 consecutive Tests was ended by the selectors after England’s defeat in the second Test against Australia in mid-July.
He returned to Yorkshire, and although he received encouraging confirmation from the selectors that he remained in the frame with his inclusion in the squad for the tour of South Africa last winter, he has had to wait for another chance.
“I’ve had some time away, the chance to work on my game, and I feel like I’ve got back to where I want to be,” added the 26-year-old, who also studied in Leeds.
“To be fair I’ve felt good the last few weeks. I’ve been playing well, just not got that big score that gets you noticed. But I was happy with the way I played in Scarborough, especially getting a century, and spending a long time in the middle.
“I still got in the squad for South Africa so I’ve still been part of it. But I haven’t played, and obviously that’s what you want to be doing. But that’s how it goes, it’s part and parcel of playing cricket. Lord’s holds great memories for me, but to be fair for the majority of my Test career I’ve got great memories of it. I can draw from those experiences, and hopefully they can stand me in good stead.”
England captain Alastair Cook revealed that Joe Root, who shared a house with Ballance when the pair were coming through the ranks at Yorkshire, will move up to number three, with James Vince at four.
“It was mentioned to me that I’d be batting at five,” Ballance confirmed. “To be honest I’ve batted three, four and five and mixed around those positions for the last two years with Yorkshire and England, so genuinely I don’t mind where I bat. I know a lot of people say that, but because I’ve been fortunate enough to have that experience, I’m happy to bat wherever is best for the team.”
He also gave a generous endorsement of the selection of Roland-Jones, who could join his county team-mate Steven Finn in England’s pace attack. “Middlesex have got a good attack, with Murtagh, Finn and Roland-Jones,” Ballance added.
“He’s been a quality bowler for the last few years for Middlesex, all of us who play in county cricket know how good a bowler he is - and obviously he’s going to have good knowledge of bowling at Lord’s. He thoroughly deserves his call-up.”