by meninblue » Sun Feb 11, 2018 7:14 am
Alex Hales: Avg 36 @ SR 95. High scores: 171.
Jason: Avg 38 @ SR 105. High Scores: 180, 162.
Jonny: Avg 46 @ SR 92. High scores: None above 150
Out of those 3, i would have Jason and Jonny as openers.
With Jason, there are hopes that one day he will score a double ton in ODI. And even if that double ton does not materialize, he gives hopes of putting a 350 target. At least he will score few more 150+ or 175+ knocks if not 200. Also in case England are chasing 350 or 400, they have some hopes with Jason in playing 11 at top of the order. Like Sachin, Sehwag, Guptill and rohit who all ahve 200 + in ODI, England should look to develop one player capable of those 200+ scores, and imo Jason is the only one with 2 scores of 150+. Probably the only England player to do so in ODI history and he has done it in just 52 innings. Averaging just 2 runs more than Alex, but that is not saying much regarding the average. However, his SR brings respectability to the average and SR combo along with other benefits as compared to other options.
Alex as a fielder does not gives me much confidence either. I have seen him drop few very easy catches. Bad average for an opener. An opener should average above 40 at atleast in modern day cricket considering they are specialist batsmen. Neither does the SR of 95 justifies the average of 36. And when there are two higher averaging batsmen than him, why to opt for the lower average batsman.
I have Jason in my opening list. Given his positives, i do think he is very inconsistent. His inconsistency has been seen in the recent ODi series, the Big Bash, the IPL. There will be one brilliant innings in series, but then he is likely to totally flop in others. His opening partner therefore needs to be more consistent and a better average. And Jonny with average of 45 is the only option who has a good combo of average and SR. rather than playing one match winning knock. Don't think any England opener has ever averaged 45 before. With a good avg & SR combo which justifies his place in squad as a specialist batsman alone, he also gives England think tank to balance a team being up the wicket-keeper batsman.
Test FL's - 8 , ODI and Tests Combo FL's - 1, ODI World Cup - 1, ODI FL's - 7, ODI and T20i combo FL's - 1 ,
T20 Franchisee FL's - 7, T20i Cup FL's- 1, T20 FL's- 5 , 50 Overs Domestic FL's - 1, 40 Overs Domestic FL's- 1