The Yorkshire left-hander, promoted to number three, scored 55 off 134 balls as the tourists could only muster 212 for seven before declaring against the Cricket Australia Chairman's XI in Alice Springs.u00a0It was Ballance, bidding with Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes to replace Jonathan Trott in the second Adelaide Test, who compiled his maiden half-century for England to hold the innings together.

England’s Gary Ballance celebrates his half-century yesterday. Pic/AFP.