Hales calls time on Root mimicry

Alex Hales has realised he must remain his own man as he tries to cement his position at the top of England's batting order rather than trying to copy anyone else.

Earlier in the series at Old Trafford, the television coverage picked up that Hales had made an adjustment to his technique between the first and second innings. Hales revealed that had come from watching Joe Root during his double century, but he said that the tweaks, which involved trying to replicate Root's trigger movements at the crease, did not feel natural to him.

Instead, he went and worked with Peter Moores, the former England coach who is now a batting consultant with Nottinghamshire, and returned to trusting his own methods.

Hales made 54 in the game-changing opening stand of 126 with Alastair Cook in the second innings at Edgbaston, which was his first significant contribution of the series, but he is still waiting for the maiden Test century which would make him the first Englishman to make hundreds in all three formats.

"Watching Rooty bat in the first innings [at Old Trafford], the way he moves his feet around the crease, got me thinking about little adjustments in my game. Second innings, I tried to give it a go and it wasn't something I was comfortable with," Hales said.

"In between Tests I did a lot of work with Peter Moores. Trying to copy other players isn't being true to yourself. I made some improvements after South Africa and just because you get a couple of good balls doesn't mean you should go away from what you have done well in the past.

"So I did a bit of alignment work, sticking to the basics of trigger and head movements, some adjustments to the left-armers, but sticking to what has brought me success in the past."

Despite four half-centuries this season, Hales has not quite done enough to end the debate about Alastair Cook's opening partner. After ten Tests he has 555 runs at 29.21, a difficult start in South Africa being followed by an encouraging display against Sri Lanka where he came close to a maiden hundred on three occasions.

Against Pakistan's higher-class of pace bowlers, however, he has again looked a little vulnerable. He has been caught behind or in the slips in five of his six innings in the series, while in the other was cleaned up by a classy Mohammad Amir inswinger in the first innings at Old Trafford.

"The results I have had this series have not been what I've wanted, having got a couple of good balls and played a couple of rash shots, but the exciting thing for me is that I'm developing and learning. Keep doing that and enjoying myself and I will give myself the best chance," he said. "I think the second innings at Edgbaston showed that, but at the same time it's about scoring runs and getting results and I know I need to score more, particularly in this Test coming up.

"It's important in anyone's career to get a century. I have given myself five opportunities with five half centuries but not gone on. I am learning and improving so hopefully the best is to come."

One of the curious dynamics of this series has been that Hales, perceived as more of a dashing batsman, has a strike-rate of 47.56 while Alastair Cook is blazing away at 76.20 (Cook's ODI strike-rate was 77.13). The notion that Hales could be England's David Warner was always ill-conceived and Hales is happy with how he is adjusting his game.

"Something I've learnt is not to go out and bat with any preconceived ideas," he said. "I don't want to be a guy who is known for blocking it nor hitting it to all parts. You have to be adaptable to each situation. If they bowl well I want to be good enough to see it off and if they bowl poorly still have the intention to hit the bad balls. Just play the situation."

Another contrast between Hales and his opening partner is their sweating. Cook is famous for barely dropping a bead while Hales can barely keep his hands dry. It means the bowlers are desperate to keep the ball away from him when it starts to reverse, as it did so crucially on the final day at Edgbaston.

"I stay well clear of it - if I know it's coming my way I rub them on the floor to try and dry them out," he said.

Hales' sweating is out of his hands. His chance to finish the Test season in convincing style is certainly not.