England vs Pakistan third Test: Gary Ballance confident hosts can bowl out visitors at Edgbaston

Gary Ballance insists England can outbowl Pakistan at Edgbaston after the home side were dismissed for 297.

Ballance top-scored with 70 after Pakistan invited England to bat first – and his innings was vital in the context of the series, which stands at 1-1 with two matches to play.

With Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Steve Finn in their seam attack, England will feel confident on day two and Ballance said: “For our bowlers these are good conditions.

"We think this is a par score and if we’d reached 350 we’d have been very happy. We hope there will be cloud cover and if we can get a first-innings lead we will be pretty satisfied.

“I was disappointed with how I got out (caught-behind down the leg side off leg-spinner Yasir Shah) but overall I was pretty happy with how I played.

“Pakistan have a good balanced attack, and they bowled well on a pitch that offered some sideways movement. It was tough for us the whole day. Pakistan kept us honest.”

Moeen Ali supported Ballance with 63. Ballance’s innings was at least partial vindication for the selectors, who raised some eyebrows when they brought him back for this series.

Ballance was dropped this time last year after losing his way against the left-arm pace of New Zealand and Australia but on the opening day, he looked more like the batsman who prospered in Test cricket when he was given a chance in 2014.

Ballance added: “I feel in better form than this time last year. In the last few weeks I’ve felt good, but I just haven’t made the score. I wanted to kick on from 70 but overall I am pretty happy.”