Nottinghamshire’s Alex Hales is set to go head-to-head with Moeen Ali for a place at the top of the England order as the tourists face Pakistan A in a two day fixture starting tomorrow.

Head Coach Trevor Bayliss has confirmed that both players will get an opportunity to stake their claim during the course of the two pre-Test fixtures, which are both being played in Sharjah.

"I don't think we've got a definitive answer just yet,” he said. “We've got a few days of practice and a couple of warm-up games before we select that team," he said.

"I think both those players will get an opportunity. We'll play the first one and then see what we need to achieve out of that last match.

"It will probably be determined on how we play in the first one, and who needs an extra hit, who's had enough, but I'm sure those two boys will get their opportunity.

"Whoever does well here is going to be very difficult to drop. A lot of it is up to the individual player."

Although captain Alastair Cook had previously suggested that Ali might get the nod as a one-off for the Pakistan series, he has now indicated that a long-term pairing at the top of the order is preferable.

"It's between Hales and Mo, that's quite clear,” said the England captain.

"Whichever side we pick, they have a great opportunity of doing something we haven't done for a while - which is getting a steady opening partnership."

While captain and coach continue to ponder their selection dilemmas, the task for the whole squad is to acclimatise quickly to 40 degree temperatures and 25 percent humidity. 

"I started with a cold as I left England, and I think that's pretty much gone already," said Cook.

"It is warm, something we have to get accustomed to, so the first two training sessions tend to be hard work.

"We will get used to it, but it is very warm. That's part of the conditions we've got to face.

“Pakistan are probably a bit more used to it than we are, but we'll be fine. Just a bit of sweat, blood and tears for the first bit."

 

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