Analysing England's 5 best opening options in Tests and ODIs

Lyth had a very poor Ashes run

Since the retirement of Andrew Strauss from Test cricket in 2012, England has had no luck finding a long-term partner for Alastair Cook at the top of the order. It has become a major predicament and despite recapturing the Ashes over the summer, the failure of Adam Lyth - who scored just 115 runs in the five-match series - is the latest to come and go, following in the footsteps of Michael Carberry, Nick Compton and Jonathan Trott.

With tours to the UAE and South Africa approaching fast, England need to find the perfect complement to the gritty Cook, who looks to be through the worst of his batting crisis. Let’s assess the players the selectors have called on to fill the role, and analyse whether they can make the spot their own, or if they are destined to be yet another hero-to-zero choice.

Alex Hales

England has finally opted to bring Alex Hales into the mix and it’s a move which brings much excitement. Not since Marcus Trescothick has the team had an aggressive opener and it’s high time England reembraced the sort of style the likes of Sanath Jayasuriya, Chris Gayle and Virender Sehwag perfected.

The modern Test approach is rooted in attack and Hales’ significant success in first-class cricket and limited-overs international cricket suggests his hand may fit the glove. The tall, lanky right-hander is one of the cleanest strikers in the country and has a penchant for big innings - he hit 236, his highest domestic score, against Yorkshire earlier this year.

While not with the most prolific first-class statistics - in 85 games he averages 38.71 with 12 hundreds - the 26-year-old’s stock has grown considerably of late. His performances certainly warrant the trial he has been given, and like Lyth, he will hopefully be given a few months to stake a claim to the spot long-term.

The left and right combination offered by Cook and Hales is just another bonus.

Moeen Ali

Moeen Ali’s name has also been touted for the spot, despite the fact that he has never opened in first-class cricket. The all-rounder’s credentials make him a strong number eight, but the step up to a Test opener is one that could perhaps be beyond him.

Moeen has flirted with the role in one-day internationals - with varied results - and has displayed his ability to dig in as a Test batsman, making a memorable 108 not out from 281 balls in England’s agonising loss to Sri Lanka last year.

The consensus should be that Moeen is a much more valuable asset in the mid-to-lower order than he would be at the top. With a Test average of 31 he has shown himself to be more of an all-rounder than a fully-fledged batsman.

England do not need someone who would flirt with consistency at the top, and while he could perhaps be considered again in the future, for now, there are better options for England to consider.

Joe Root

For now, Joe Root looks to have embedded himself in the middle of England’s batting lineup, but he has had experiences opening in Tests, and it’s feasible that he may be called upon again in time if a suitable candidate cannot be found.

In his five matches at the top, Root averaged 37.66 with a highest score of 180 - which came during the 2013 Ashes series. It’s a whole 17 runs of his overall average, but with the glut of middle-order prospects - Gary Ballance, James Taylor and Jonny Bairstow to name three - it could be in England’s interests long-term to install him as an opener again.

Root ending up with the job would look like a backwards step from the selectors. However, it could work out for the best. England may end up with a world-class opener to continue on from Cook’s legacy, and another gap for the wealth of young batting talents would be created.

Nick Compton

Compton has performed for Somerset in counties

Nick Compton was brought into the England side after hitting a purple patch of form at Somerset but was discarded before the last Ashes series in Australia. In comparison to the others who have had a crack, Compton’s numbers were not too bad.

In his nine Tests, he hit two gritty hundreds; however, his 32 average and measly strike rate of 34.68 went against him. His tentativeness made him look vulnerable - and he often was - but the right-hander showed that when he settled in, he had the temperament to apply himself and build a strong base for the team.

In an attempt to bolster his chances, Compton has returned to his former county Middlesex, where he has been steady, if not superb. His England days are most likely behind him, but many considered him unlucky not to at least be in the squad for the upcoming Pakistan series.

He just has to continue scoring runs, and hope another opportunity comes his way in the future.

Zafar Ansari

Misfortune has struck Zafar Ansari at the worst possible time - he dislocated his thumb in a County Championship match against Lancashire shortly after being called up for the UAE Tests against Pakistan.

The 23-year-old Surrey all-rounder was brought in largely because of his spin bowling, but he is no stranger to opening the batting either.

However, his painfully low strike rate does not stand him in good stead - in his first-class career he has scored at around two-an-over, around half the speed which has become the norm.

But if he does regain fitness and Hales doesn’t fire, Ansari could get a couple of innings to prove his worth.

Final Thoughts

Hales will seal the spot for himself with a good winter, however, if he fails like the others before him have then England will remain in a quandary. Ansari would be the most probable beneficiary from a Hales failure, but if neither can impress then perhaps Root will be called upon to take one for the team, and hold things together at the top.

Hales and Roy opened during the Australia series

One-Day Internationals

England’s brash new approach in ODI cricket is a welcome change from the dour, backwards style they endorsed for far too long. Trevor Bayliss’ appointment of coach is welcome and the new team showed plenty of promise during their ODI series this summer against Australia and New Zealand - the world champions and the runners-up.

A period of experimentation should be expected now ahead of the next two major ICC events - the 2017 Champions Trophy - and 2019 World Cup - which will both be held in England.

If they can find the right combination, the next four years could be their best chance to finally win a first ICC 50-over competition. But who should front the powerful batting lineup?

Alex Hales and Jason Roy

Alex Hales and Jason Roy have been the lead-off men this summer for England but have yet to translate flashes of brilliance into anything more meaningful. Hales in particular, disappointed, managing just 53 runs from the five ODIs against Australia, and his efforts in 50-over internationals are a far cry from his typically dominant performances in Twenty20s.

Roy fared better versus the Aussies, hitting two fifties and failing to pass 30 only once - his ODI strike rate is also over 100, meaning England are assured of a brisk start even if Roy’s stay at the crease is a short one.

That said, neither have cemented their place, so there is scope for a few county cricketers to make their name at international level.

Moeen Ali

The new-look England team - which came into place after a dreadful World Cup campaign - had no room for Moeen Ali as an opener, but he has found a slot at number seven. A versatile player, his typically economical spin bowling means he is a key part of England’s plans, and therefore, a potential opener again if required.

He has two ODI centuries - both in the past 12 months - but was inconsistent at the top of the order. Moving Moeen back to the position would be a regressive step but he does at least have experience in the role.

Josh Cobb

Cobb of Northants

Josh Cobb was expected to breakthrough after bursting onto the county scene, but he has flattered to deceive of late. He left struggling Leicestershire along with a host of other players after the 2014 season, and the 25-year-old now plies his trade at Northamptonshire.

His List A record is commendable, with six tons and a 38 average from 68 matches. Most importantly, his strike rate of 94 is just what Bayliss’ England is searching for. If the explosive opener gets his mojo back, he will be nipping at the heels of the incumbents.

Luke Wright

Luke Wright has flitted in and out of the England side over the past few years and his style of play suits the new regime. The hard-hitting all-rounder has never truly excelled as an opener or a finisher for them, but he remains a consistent performer in domestic cricket.

Now 30 years old, Wright should be coming into his prime and, although he is out of the loop at the moment, if England do go after a like-for-like replacement for Hales or Roy, the Sussex cricketer could find himself back in the frame.

Final Thoughts

Roy looks safe for the foreseeable future, but after an awful series against Australia, Hales is under threat. His only saving grace for now is the lack of genuine alternatives. While Moeen, Cobb and Wright are capable, none have given any indication recently that they could do a better job.

It is now imperative for Hales that he utilises the lack of competition to his benefit and consolidates himself at the top. If he delivers in the Tests, it may just give him the confidence to succeed in the shorter format.