ALEX HALES appears set to become captain Alastair Cook’s new opening partner after being named in England’s 15-man Royal London Series squad to face India.

Hales, in the form of his life, will have to displace Ian Bell at the top of the order if he is to get the chance to carry his brilliant hitting from county limited-overs cricket and Twenty20 for England into the 50-over international arena.

The 25-year-old, uncapped in one-day internationals, joins a squad which will be missing frontline seamer Stuart Broad – due to see a specialist this week to assess what to do about his longterm knee injury – and containing instead a backin- favour Steven Finn.

James Anderson is included, despite suggestions that he might benefit from a rest after England concluded their sequence of five back-to-back Test matches with a 3-1 Investec Series victory over India only on Sunday.

Hales’ inclusion is a tantalising one for those who have championed his cause in recent weeks, while he has been hitting hundred after hundred for England Lions and Notts – mostly in white-ball cricket but, on the day the squad was announced, also to clinch a vital county championship match too.

England must work out whether he is ready to take over from Bell – and if so where that leaves the latter, who is one of six specialist batsmen in their squad.

Cook and Bell both operate at ODI strike rates in the mid to late 70s, while Hales smashes the ball to all parts at 99.77 in List A fixtures.

Coach Peter Moores has made it clear, however, that he is happy with his captain’s run rate at the top of the order.

Asked if he was worried about it, he said: “No.

“Alastair’s record probably stands up with a lot of openers.’’

Squad: AN Cook (captain), MM Ali, JM Anderson, GS Ballance, IR Bell, JC Buttler (wkt), ST Finn, HF Gurney, AD Hales, CJ Jordan, EJG Morgan, JE Root, BA Stokes, JC Tredwell, CR Woakes.