Cook hoping to see England's opening woes

Sport360 staff 09:10 02/09/2015
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  • Struggles: Cook with partner Lyth.

    Alastair Cook hopes someone can solve England’s opener troubles and become his long-term partner in the Test team.

    Adam Lyth this summer became Cook’s sixth partner since Andrew Strauss retired following the South Africa series in 2012.

    Nick Compton, Joe Root, Michael Carberry, Sam Robson and Jonathan Trott have also partnered Cook in the last three years, with Compton’s eight appearances at the top of the order the most any of them have managed.

    Lyth hit a hundred against New Zealand but averaged just 12.77 in the Ashes series, with a high score of 37, and his place in the team appears to be under threat.

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    England head to the UAE in October to face Pakistan in three Tests before they tour South Africa in the winter. Cook defended Lyth’s role in England’s Ashes victory but admitted the selectors would have a tough decision over who to select for the first Test in Abu Dhabi.

    He told BBC Five Live: “That is a really interesting decision the selectors have to make. I think there’s a selection meeting in the next 10 days.

    “The conditions in Abu Dhabi will be different to what we have just played in here where it nipped all over. I’d love someone to jump out and nail that slot. The selectors have tough calls. They have made some big calls in the summer and were proved right.”

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