Are Pakistan Set To Experience a Hales Storm in the UAE?

As auditions go, Alex Hales’ form in the recent ODI series against Australia hardly suggested a man at the peak of his powers. Nevertheless, Trevor Bayliss, Alastair Cook and the selectors have seen enough in his game to convince them that he may be the answer to England’s top order woes.

Adam Lyth is the fall guy – he hasn’t even made the squad for the test series against Pakistan in the UAE – and, arguably, his omission is the right decision based on his Ashes form alone. England are favourites in the UAE, but their batting order may be key to success.

There is a possibility, of course, that Moeen Ali will move up to open the batting and Adil Rashid – or, less likely, Samit Patel – will come into the side at number eight. But the selection of Hales, who has long been on the cusp of the England test side, would suggest that his time has finally come.

Hales and Pace

That said, the timing of his ascension is slightly surprising; Hales has hardly enjoyed the best of County Championship campaigns, and looked out of his depth in the recent ODI series against Australia. The Nottinghamshire man has profited more than most from the lack of natural successors to Lyth’s crown at the top of the order.

There is a theory, and it’s one not without evidence for the prosecution, that he struggles against out-and-out pace bowling. He was particularly troubled by the lively Pat Cummins in the ODI matches, and in 19 limited overs innings for his country Hales has been dismissed by pacemen on 14 occasions.

That’s not an overly surprising statistic given that he opens the batting, but it does show that he’s not hanging around and getting into the meat of the innings to face the tweakers and the pie-chuckers. He will need to show more resilience against a functional yet average Pakistan attack; greater tests, including the tour of South Africa in the winter, are just around the corner.

Domestic Bliss?

If anyone highlights the gulf between county and test cricket, it is the mercurial Alex Hales. In his last three innings for Notts prior to the ODI series against the Aussies, he scored 58, 189 and 62. Against the likes of Mitchell Starc, Cummins and co, Hales struck 22, 18, 9, 0 and 4. Form doesn’t disappear overnight just like that, which suggests that something more sinister is afoot.

It also reasserts the notion that the 26-year-old is a ‘streak’ player – one who makes hay whilst the sun is shining. He started the domestic season like a house on fire, and he has ended it – following a spell as Mumbai’s drinks waiter in the IPL – as a bit of a damp squib.

So, to answer the original hypothesis, are Pakistan set to experience a Hales storm in the UAE? Well, if he opens the innings with Captain Cook, perhaps not if the prevailing statistics are anything to go by.

Three is the Magic Number

But it is easy to forget about the sheer volume of runs that Hales has scored from the number three berth. And that could be the key to his long-term future on the test circuit; with Ian Bell seemingly hanging onto his place by the skin of his teeth at the moment, Hales will be looking on and licking his lips in anticipation at the prospect of a few early series failures.

The thought of Alex Hales coming to the crease with England, say, 100-1 in the middle of an afternoon session is certainly mouth watering enough. He has the potential to destroy tired bowling attacks when he is settled at the crease, and his impact could quickly navigate his side into a strong position.

It is almost churlish to bring up his name with England doing so well in the test arena at the moment, but in Hales the Three Lions could have the natural heir to (whisper it) Kevin Pietersen’s throne as middle order enforcer and entertainer.