YORKSHIRE coach Jason Gillespie has revealed that he encouraged Gary Ballance to "just whack it" in an attempt to get back in the runs for county and country ahead of next month's Ashes series.

The England No3 returned to Headingley having been left out of the England squad for the current One-Day International series against New Zealand, but after seeing Ballance make 29 to help Yorkshire secure a vital victory against Middlesex on Tuesday, Gillespie believes that his batsman is not so much out of form as out of runs.

"Gary had a wonderful start to his Test career and now he's going though a little patch when he's not scoring the runs he'd like," said the Yorkshire coach. "On top of that, the media and the TV pundits have started to pick apart his technique.

"But the message we gave him when he came back here when he was playing T20 was: 'Just whack it, mate'. He's an experienced campaigner, he's back with his Yorkshire mates and he'll find his method.

"We told him not to be afraid to hit the ball and just go out and enjoy himself and have some fun with it. He's back in the dressing room and he's been great around the lads, which he always is.

"I don't think he's out of nick, I think he's out of runs," said Gillespie. "If he gets 50 or 60, suddenly he'll be away. He's had a couple of Tests when he didn't score runs but that happens in cricket.

"You don't get a fifty or a hundred every time you go out to bat just like you don't get a five-for every time you go out to bowl.

"He only made 29 but I thought he played quite well, and in the scheme of things, he made a contribution to us winning the game and that was very pleasing."

And ahead of Sunday's NatWest T20 Blast game against Northants Steelbacks at Headingley, Gillespie confirmed that Australian batsman Aaron Finch would play in both of Yorkshire second team's t20 games against Northamptonshire at Barnsley today.

For his part Finch has expressed his pleasure at the prospect of wearing the White Rose again.

"I'm looking forward to playing this week," said Finch, who arrived in Leeds last weekend after completing his rehabilitation from injury in Australia.

"I'm in a good place and can't wait to help the side out. I've had a couple of nets and I'm feeling good. I will play the two T20 matches arranged at Barnsley on Thursday and I'm hoping I can hit the ground running.

"It is great to be back at Yorkshire. I've missed being with the boys. This is a great club that breeds winners. The environment is very positive and hopefully my contributions with the bat will help the club continue to prosper."

Gillespie also said that Glenn Maxwell, Yorkshire's second Australian signing, and Alex Lees may also play in at least one of the games at Barnsley.