Resolute Ballance continues to make case for Test recall

Brooks has captured 57 wickets in first-class cricket this summer at 20.66 but was deemed surplus to requirements here, where Yorkshire preferred the all-round skills of Tim Bresnan and Liam Plunkett.

Yorkshire’s bowling strength is the main reason they are top of the County Championship with one hand firmly wrapped around the trophy, a strength that has masked the fact that their top-order batting has not been of traditional title-winning vintage.

Indeed, when Yorkshire slipped to 22-2 inside nine overs after choosing to bat, there was nothing particularly unusual about that, with the club having struggled all summer for consistent scores from top-order players.

Even less unusual, however, was the way that Yorkshire fought back from that unpromising platform to reach 346-6 at the close of play.

It has been a characteristic of their season that they have invariably found someone to stand up when needed – often a Bresnan or a Jonny Bairstow with the bat – to make sure that their bowlers have then had something to work with.

First, Alex Lees knuckled down to make 69 – his highest first-class score since he hit 100 against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in April.

Then Gary Ballance made 98 not out – his highest score in any form of cricket since he struck 122 against the West Indies at Antigua in April.

Ballance performed resolutely, typically stepping back deep in his crease just as the bowler delivered the ball and then playing forward and back confidently.

The left-hander, who was somewhat harsly dropped for the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston by England, has responded well to losing his England place – spurred on, no doubt, by the fact that he feels somewhat hard done to having scored 61 in the first Test at Cardiff.