TALKING CRICKET - England need to solve opener dilemma by opting for Alex Hales

England’s dithering selection policy at the top of the order must stop now if they are to settle the line-up for the long, hard winter ahead…

The case for Alex Hales to open the batting for England in the upcoming Tests against Pakistan is now overwhelming after Moeen Ali’s failure in the first tour match of the winter.

The series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates clearly warrants two spinners and Moeen’s elevation, in place of Adam Lyth, allows leg spinner Adil Rashid to slip in down the order.

The position of opener is not one that England can afford to dither with any longer though.

Not only was Moeen’s score of 22 underwhelming but the manner of his dismissal should be of great concern.

The English top order struggled against the pace of the Australian attack this summer and Moeen looked the most uncomfortable of the lot.

His problems against the short ball were on going and he lacked the confidence to duck.

The theory now is the more placid pitches of the UAE should offer him more time to play quick, short bowling even as an opener.

Moeen was caught after top edging a pull in his only innings against Pakistan A in Sharjah on Monday.

The list of names that have partnered Alastair Cook grows ever longer and there is no sign of a resolution.

To open with Moeen against Pakistan would be nothing more than a stop gap - he will not be trusted to face South Africa’s pace attack when the test series gets underway at Kingsmead in Durban on Boxing Day.

If England go to Moeen first against Pakistan, then when they inevitably turn to Hales he will be the eighth opening partner that Cook will have had since Andrew Strauss retired in 2012.

Hales must be given his chance now. He needs to find his feet at Test level and England need to see him open before weighing up their options for the more difficult task ahead.

This process has many echoes of Jonathan Trott being bundled in at the top on his return in the Caribbean ahead of the fancied Lyth.

What the Yorkshireman would have given to have those three Tests under his belt, as well as the two he got against New Zealand, before facing the Aussies.

Exposing Hales to Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander without prior Test experience would be a disservice to another bright prospect and would repeat a mistake made only seven months ago.

Lyth may well be the man that provides back up in the squad for the tour of South Africa but that is as much to do with the lack of options that remain.

Thereafter the selectors would most likely have to thumb through some of the recent discards.

Sam Robson’s call-up last summer was perhaps ahead of schedule and this was mainly due to his dual nationality.

Had England not plunged for him when they did, then Robson may well have been lining up for the Aussies last summer.

Instead he was dropped after one century in seven Tests at an average of 31 with suspicions about his judgement on off stump. The 26-year-old’s form for Middlesex hasn’t been the same since.

Lyth, meanwhile, managed just one 50 in seven innings when he returned to the champion county following his poor Ashes return.

Michael Carberry felt hard done by, and rightly so, following his battling displays in England’s dismal tour down under the winter before last. At 35, however, his time looks to have passed.

The name that will not go away is Nick Compton and this column has continually backed his selection. The 32-year-old’s individual return is no better than his rivals but he does share England’s most successful post-war average with Cook for the opening wicket (57.93 runs).

To play a specialist opener with both Rashid and Ali would in all likelihood mean a three-match hiatus for the underperforming Jos Buttler with Jonny Bairstow taking over as keeper.

Buttler will come good, no one doubts his future, but by dropping out, his short-term sabbatical would go a long way to restoring stability and confidence at the top of the order.

The selection process needs to be ruthless and forward thinking now or the merry-go-round at the top will keep the heads of the openers spinning as viciously as an Emiratee pitch.