Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket Mick Newell has backed Alex Hales to retain his place at the top of the order alongside Alastair Cook for a prolonged period after his maiden Test fifty in Cape Town.
Hales scored 60 in the first innings of the drawn Cape Town match and has amassed 101 runs in his four innings so far.
Newell believes that is just the start for the 27-year-old as the right-hander looks to cement his place alongside the England captain.
"He wants to establish himself as the long-term successor as an opening partner to Alastair Cook,” said Newell.
"I think there were signs in that first innings in Cape Town that he can do.
"Opening the batting is a pretty tough job and when Dale Steyn is playing, you are playing against the world's best bowler.
"Alex is having to get stuck in and curb some of his natural instincts to score.
"He is certainly doing enough to stay in the team, but I think he wants to do more than that.
"He will want to come out of the series with some more good scores. He will be continually tested on two faster pitches as they move inland.
"If he does grab this opportunity I think it will be great for him, and good for England."
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