Ballance annoyed with his shot selection

Cricket365
August 17, 2014

England batsman Gary Ballance, on a purple run of form, was annoyed with himself after getting out tamely in the fifth Test against India at The Oval, and rued missing out on another century.

Ballance has been England's star batsman this series, and he added yet another half ton to his tally as England built a hefty lead, but he was gutted at being removed for 64, tapping the ball to Cheteshwar Pujara at silly point.

Ballance, who was removed by Ravi Ashwin, said at stumps on Saturday: "I felt good out there and I am very disappointed that I could not get the hundred today.

"I was disappointed with the way I got out and should have gone on to bat longer. But I guess that delivery bounced a bit more and I should not have played at it.

"But international sport is tough but I feel much more confident after how this summer has shaped up. I feel I can do a decent job at number three for England and kick on from the chances that I have been given so far."

England sat on 385 for seven at stumps on day two, with Joe Root nearing a century, after he and Jos Buttler saved the side from a collapse. England lost four wickets for less than 50 runs before the pair arrived.

Ballance added: "After lunch, Varun Aaron changed ends and bowled well to us. He changed the angles and came around the wicket as well as over the wicket. R Ashwin bowled well and got a couple wickets as well.

"But the way Root and Buttler counter-attacked was brilliant and that really put us in a strong position towards the end of the day.

"There was a bit of collapse and it was not ideal. But things could have been worse, it could have been 8-9 wickets but only four wickets went down
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"The Indian bowlers might be a little disappointed. They ran in all day on a pitch that is getting flatter. The way they ran in all day was a credit to them especially their seamers.

"They hit good areas but the way Root played and counter-attacked, he could play freely as they got tired. Varun Aaron ran in all day long and he was bowling in the late 80s.

"Bhuvneshwar Kumar also touched the 80s plus, he can move the ball both ways. Ashwin is a different bowler from Ravindra Jadeja and they are both very difficult to score off. Overall, I think Indian bowling has done well."