YORKSHIRE all-rounder Rich Pyrah has backed Gary Ballance to star for England in all formats as he prepares to return to county colours against Lancashire at Headingley tonight (6.30).

Ballance has been made available for NatWest T20 Blast and LV= County Championship cricket in the build-up to next month's Ashes, starting with a T20 clash with the Lightning.

The left-hander has made an exceptional start to his Test career, scoring 1,096 runs in 13 appearances since January 2014 – including four hundreds – and averages an impressive 52.19.

Unfortunately, a poor one-day winter World Cup has seen him dropped from the limited-overs squad, while scores of one, nought, 29 and six in the recent two-match series against New Zealand has also left people questioning his Test place.

But Pyrah said of his Yorkshire team-mate: "I will never question Gaz because he's one of the best batsmen I've ever played with.

"He reads the game so well and, at such a young age, his record is unbelievable in all formats. He is going to be one of the best batsmen for England.

"One of the main reasons why he hasn't quite reached his potential in one-day internationals is that he's been batting in the wrong position.

"They've wanted him to fill the old Trott role at three and bat through. We all know Gaz is not that kind of one-day player. He's a number five or six who finishes the game. He's one of the cleanest hitters we've got.

"Hopefully the new boss (Trevor Bayliss) will find the right position for him. But I think coming back to us will do him the world of good.

"He looks to be in a bit of a rut at the moment, so to come back to Yorkshire and play with a bit of freedom will get him back into some rhythm."

All England players are available for tonight's mouth-watering encounter, aside from Lancashire bowler Jimmy Anderson.

That means Ballance, Joe Root and Adam Lyth should all come up against Jos Buttler.

Pyrah said: "We don't get to see Rooty and Gaz a lot and for them to come back, it gives us an extra bit of a lift. They are world-class players now.

"Along with Glenn Maxwell for us and James Faulkner for them, this is why you play Twenty20 – to play with the best players. It should be a great game."

While Yorkshire have won two from three North Group games to date, Lancashire have lost two from three.

Yorkshire squad: Gale (capt), Bairstow (wkt), Ballance, Bresnan, Brooks, Fisher, Leaning, Lees, Lyth, Maxwell, Plunkett, Pyrah, Rashid, Root.