Hales Test place up for debate, says England coach

27-year-old score just 145 runs in eight innings against Pakistan at an average of a shade over 18

LONDON: England coach Trevor Bayliss has told opener Alex Hales that his Test place is under threat ahead of the upcoming tours of Bangladesh and India.

Hales struck a new England ODI record as he smashed 171 against Pakistan at his Nottinghamshire home ground of Trent Bridge last week.

But the 27-year-old has a modest Test average of under 28, and managed to score just 145 runs in eight innings against Pakistan at an average of a shade over 18.

The drawn series against Pakistan, which preceded England's 4-1 ODI win over the tourists, ended in embarrassing fashion for Hales after he was was fined 15 percent of his match fee, approximately £1,500, for showing dissent towards third umpire Joel Wilson following his first-innings dismissal during a 10-wicket defeat at The Oval last month.

Bayliss, when asked if England might be on the verge of selecting a new opening batsman for captain Alaister Cook, told reporters in Cardiff following the conclusion of the Pakistan ODI series that it is a real possibility."Possibly. There have been some young players making some runs, who are coming into calculations -- which is very exciting.

"That's obviously one of the talking points around the selection table," the Australian added.

Lancashire's Haseeb Hameed is the latest name in the frame, with the 19-year-old having scored 1,129 runs in the First Division of the County Championship so far this season -- a tally that includes four hundreds -- at an average of 54.

England have traditionally been reluctant to pick teenagers, but Bayliss said Hameed's age would not count against him. "If he's good enough, he's old enough," the former Sri Lanka coach insisted. "I wouldn't have any problem [picking him]."

As well as deciding who should open alongside Cook, England are likely to want to pick a third spinner in addition to Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid given the turning pitches they are set to encounter in the sub-continent.

Liam Dawson is in contention, even though his ODI debut in Cardiff on Sunday saw the Hampshire left-arm spinner return expensive figures of two for 70 in eight overs as Pakistan won by four wickets to avoid a whitewash.

Nevertheless, Dawson impressed Bayliss and the England coach praised the young left-arm spinner for his all-round capabilities. "He will certainly be in discussions. He's a guy who's got something about him.

"He bats, bowls and he's a pretty good fielder as well. But it's his game sense [that stands out] -- he knows how to play the game, almost knows what's going to happen before it happens."