Ballance Joins Zimbabwe Staff For England Test

Former batter Gary Ballance will beryllium portion of Zimbabwe's coaching unit during nan four-day Test against England later this month.

Ballance, 35, played 23 Tests and 16 one-day internationals for England betwixt 2013 and 2017.

After admitting utilizing racist connection arsenic portion of nan Yorkshire racism scandal successful 2021, Ballance signed a two-year woody to play for Zimbabwe - nan state of his birth.

He played 1 Test, 5 ODIs and 1 T20 for Zimbabwe earlier retiring successful 2023, saying he "no longer has nan desire to dedicate himself" to master sport.

"We are thrilled to invited Gary Ballance to our coaching set-up for this historical tour," said Zimbabwe's managing head Givemore Makoni.

"His heavy knowing of English conditions, gained complete years of playing astatine nan highest level, will beryllium a valuable plus to our team's tactical preparation."

Ballance scored 1,653 runs astatine an mean of 40.31 successful Tests.

After taking 10 Tests aliases 17 innings to scope 1,000 Test runs - he was nan 3rd fastest to that landmark for England down Herbert Sutcliffe and Len Hutton - he faded and was dropped successful 2017.

He played for Yorkshire betwixt 2008 and 2021 and admitted he was responsible for immoderate of nan violative position Azeem Rafiq was subjected to during his clip astatine Headingley.

England and Zimbabwe meet successful a one-off Test astatine Trent Bridge from 22 May.

It will beryllium nan first clip nan 2 sides person played a Test since 2003.