Gary Ballance’s England career is on hold again after an x-ray confirmed a broken left index finger ruling him out of next week’s third Test against South Africa at the Oval.

Ballance last night saw a hand surgeon to have the injury fully assessed and was told he would not be fit for the third Test starting next Thursday. Ballance will be monitored by the England medical team and could be fit for the fourth Test but it is hard to see how he will force his way back in again unless England produce a terrible batting performance at the Oval.

Last summer James Vince batted with a broken little finger but a break to left index finger for a left handed batsman such as Ballance is a much more serious injury and it has at least excused Joe Root from having to make a judgement call on his friend who had struggled in the first two matches of the series since his recall.

Mark Stoneman is the next in line although Tom Westley of Essex and Middlesex’s Dawid Malan are also in contention and will be discussed when the selectors meet later this week.