Since Andrew Strauss retired, England's average opening wicket stand is 35.25 - below the overall average of 35.35. Over this period, 9 batsman have partnered Cook at the top of the order. Joe Root (37.66) is the only one with an average above 35. The other 8 (Hales, Compton, Robson, Carberry, Lyth, Moeen Ali, Trott and Buttler) have a combined average of 25.15. In their 84 combined innings, they have scored just 4 centuries and 9 fifties.
Cook's most recent partner, Alex Hales, is currently sporting a meagre average of 27.28 after his first 11 matches. His numbers are boosted almost entirely thanks to a very mediocre Sri Lankan attack. His average (17.56) in the two series against South Africa and Pakistan is a sight for sore eyes.
Hales was brought into the side to be an attacking foil for Cook, yet, as it turned out, Cook has been the more aggressive of the two. Hales has looked tentative and turgid with a strike-rate barely above 40. He has stewed and stagnated at the crease for long periods - simply unable to rotate the strike. He blocked and blocked and blocked until he nicked off as Pakistan's seamers exploited his inability to resist playing at anything outside his off-stump. He reached 25 only once in the recent series with Pakistan, and his troubles began weighing so heavily on his mind that he got so desperate as to change his technique mid-Test at Old Trafford.
Over the last 2 years, England have tried 7 different opening combinations. Pakistan are the only team to have gone through more partnerships. The selectors have yet to find the right combination. And so once again, England will start an upcoming series with serious question marks surrounding Cook's opening partner. Is this the end of the road for Hales? If so, who replaces him? Do they go back to the well and try Robson or Lyth again? Or perhaps a left-field selection in either Ben Duckett or Daniel Bell-Drummond?
Cook's most recent partner, Alex Hales, is currently sporting a meagre average of 27.28 after his first 11 matches. His numbers are boosted almost entirely thanks to a very mediocre Sri Lankan attack. His average (17.56) in the two series against South Africa and Pakistan is a sight for sore eyes.
Hales was brought into the side to be an attacking foil for Cook, yet, as it turned out, Cook has been the more aggressive of the two. Hales has looked tentative and turgid with a strike-rate barely above 40. He has stewed and stagnated at the crease for long periods - simply unable to rotate the strike. He blocked and blocked and blocked until he nicked off as Pakistan's seamers exploited his inability to resist playing at anything outside his off-stump. He reached 25 only once in the recent series with Pakistan, and his troubles began weighing so heavily on his mind that he got so desperate as to change his technique mid-Test at Old Trafford.
Over the last 2 years, England have tried 7 different opening combinations. Pakistan are the only team to have gone through more partnerships. The selectors have yet to find the right combination. And so once again, England will start an upcoming series with serious question marks surrounding Cook's opening partner. Is this the end of the road for Hales? If so, who replaces him? Do they go back to the well and try Robson or Lyth again? Or perhaps a left-field selection in either Ben Duckett or Daniel Bell-Drummond?