South Africa vs England: Why can't England find an opening batsman?

Nine of the 25 most prolific openers in Test cricket history are English - more than any other nation. Six of those nine were fixtures in the side, so much so that in the 51 years since Geoffrey Boycott made his debut in 1964, at least one of Boycott, Graham Gooch, Mike Atherton, Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss or Alastair Cook has opened in 79% (442) of England's 561 Tests. But that lineage appears, for now at least, to be in danger of dying out with Cook. Since Strauss retired in 2012, Cook has gone through seven different partners, with Alex Hales set to become the eighth in the first Test against South Africa starting on 26 December. How have England, the home of technically correct, gritty, sell-your-grandma-before-you-sell-your-wicket openers - raised against the moving ball on pitches greener than a snooker table - found themselves in such a state of flux at the top of the order?

England opener Alex Hales fails again in South Africa warm-up

England opener Alex Hales made another low score on day two of their three-day tour match against a South Africa Invitation XI in Potchefstroom. Having made eight in the first innings, Hales took 42 balls to make the same score when England batted again. England declared on their overnight 470-5 and bowled the home side out for 188, with Stuart Broad taking 3-18 and uncapped left-armer Mark Footitt 2-51. Alastair Cook made 37 and Joe Root an unbeaten 26 as England closed on 99-3. Hales, who made his maiden one-day international century in the series with Pakistan last month, is expected to become the eighth man tried at the top of the Test order since Andrew Strauss retired in 2012 when the first of four Tests against South Africa begins in Durban on 26 December. But the 26-year-old Nottinghamshire batsman, uncapped at Test level, was again dismissed by paceman Junior Dala as his backward defensive shot cannoned into his stumps.