10. He played for Young England in 1989.

9. His nicknames (according to "The Cricketers' Who's Who") are Benny and Barfo.

8. He is Gloucestershire's only player on the Test leg of the Indian tour.

7. It took eight years at Gloucestershire before Ball was awarded his county cap.

6. The reason the England selectors selected him yesterday for the tour of India is that they wanted to replace Robert Croft with a "like-for-like replacement". Yes, they wanted a bowler just like Robert Croft...