With the question over who his opening partner will be still widely debated, Alastair Cook has challenged Nottinghamshire batsman Alex Hales to take his chance in the warm-up games before the first Test in the UAE.

Hales scored 892 runs in 11 matches at just under 50 in the LV= County Championship and replaced Adam Lyth in the squad after the Yorkshire left-hander endured a tough time throughout the Ashes.

The battle for the openers slot in the UAE seems to be a straight battle between Hales and Moeen Ali, one that will be raging on until the side is announced for the first Test on October 13.

"It might be a short-term option and that Mo opens in this series but not in South Africa," said Cook.

"But Alex could always take his chance in a warm-up game and we go that way, so we do have options.

"No-one has quite nailed the opportunity - they all did okay without really grabbing it.

"It's a big step from county cricket to international cricket and opening the batting you are playing against the best bowlers with the new ball.

"Root could have solved it but he was doing so well in the middle order that it seemed wrong to change it. So it is a little bit frustrating but there is a chance for whoever gets it next."

A far cry from the conditions England have recently won the Ashes in, the UAE provides one of the toughest challenges for any touring side with no visiting team coming away victorious in eight attempts.

And Cook believes England have to leave the Ashes victory in the past and prepare to be flexible if they are to beat Pakistan.

"There is no rest and the guys have to park the Ashes and start looking forward at how we are going to win in the UAE," he said.

"We have a balanced squad so we could play two spinners - something you pretty much have to do on flat wickets - and four seamers.

"You could even play three spinners in these conditions, so the guys have to be flexible - it may be a different side to what we play in South Africa but that's what you need to do to win away.

"We have a lot of bowling options on flat wickets and having seen Adil grow in front of our eyes in one-day cricket over the last six months we know he is good enough for Test cricket."

 

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