ANDREW GALE has hit out at England’s management of Gary Ballance following the left-hander’s omission from the Test squad for next month’s series against Pakistan in the UAE.

The Yorkshire captain has also expressed his disappointment that team-mate Adam Lyth has been left out in place of Alex Hales after only seven Tests at the top of England’s order.

Ballance was jettisoned from the Test team following a run of 134 runs in four home appearances against New Zealand and Australia earlier this summer.

That followed a haul of 331 runs in three Test matches in the Caribbean in April and May, including two 50s and one 100.

After he was initially left out for Yorkshire team-mate Jonny Bairstow, Nottinghamshire’s James Taylor has got the nod as middle order cover for the three-match series in the Emirates.

Ballance’s back foot technique has been heavily criticised by the pundits, but the 25-year-old was the third fastest England batsman to reach 1,000 Test runs earlier this year.

Lyth has been left out in place of Notts’ opener Alex Hales, who has not yet reached 900 Championship runs this season.

The White Rose opener, who earned his chance on the back of nearly 1,500 four-day runs in 2014, scored 265 in all home Tests against New Zealand and Australia this summer with one century.

“I’m gutted for the lads,” said Gale. “I’m so disappointed for Gaz. He’s got an unbelievable record. I think he’s been harshly treated, and I’m really disappointed with the ECB for that.

“I strongly disagree with the decision they’ve made.

“He’s got a proven record at that level, and yet they’ve picked James Taylor ahead of him.

“As much as I love Titch, I think Gaz deserves a chance to get back in that squad and prove again what he did before.

“He’s a mentally strong lad is Gaz and a pretty level-headed guy. Knowing him as I do, he’ll take it in his stride and come back much stronger.”

“In terms of Lythy, I thought Michael Carberry summed it up well in a Sky interview when he said ‘someone deserves a really good run in that opener’s spot.

“I’m not a fan of chopping and changing. You’ll see with our Yorkshire team this year that I’m a big believer in continuity and backing guys for a certain amount of time.

“Lythy’s shown that he can perform at that level, and it’s not as if opening batters are falling out of trees and churning runs out week after week like Lythy did last year.”

Since returning to Yorkshire colours, Ballance scored 165 in the Championship draw against Sussex at Hove last month before adding 91 against Somerset at Headingley earlier this month.

Lyth’s best score since returning to Championship cricket at the end of the Ashes was 62 against Somerset.

Unfortunately, he posted a second-ball duck in the ongoing clash with Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl.

There was only 7.4 overs of play possible during yesterday’s third day due to heavy rain through the afternoon, with Yorkshire advancing from 82-4 overnight to 97-4 in reply to the hosts’ first-innings 400-9 declared.

Opener Alex Lees has 37 not out and Tim Bresnan made his way to 12.

A contrived finish is not completely out of the question during today’s final day, although Hampshire may be keen to take the safety first approach and accrue bonus points in a draw as they battle against relegation.