Record-breaker Hales vows to keep Test spot

Fresh from a record-breaking performance in England's one-day international series against South Africa, batsman Alex Hales is confident he can hold on the opening position in the Test side as well.

Hales posted scores of 57, 99, 65, 50 and 112 in five matches against the Proteas, becoming just the third man in history to pass 50 in every game of a five-match ODI series.

He joins Pakistan's Yasir Hameed (who scored 52, 53, 63, 61 and 127no against New Zealand in 2003) and the Black Caps Kane Williamson (71, 77, 65, 60 and 88 against India in 2014) as the only other men to achieve the feat.

Hales' performance in the ODI series, which England lost 3-2 having won the first two matches, was a far cry from his efforts in the preceding Test series, when he scored just 136 runs from four matches with a highest score of 60.

Despite disappointing in his first series in Test cricket, Hales is hopeful to be given another chance to partner Alastair Cook at the top of the order when England host Sri Lanka for a three-match series in May and June.

"It was my first Test series and it came in tough conditions opening the batting against one of the best bowling attacks in the world," Hales said as England prepared for a two-match T20 series against the Proteas, starting on Friday.

"It was a tough challenge but I think I've learnt a lot from it and hope I get a crack in the summer to show people I can play. I didn't feel out of my depth.

"I got caught in two minds at times whether to attack or defend and that could have been my downfall.

"I feel what I did building up to the series was right, concentrating on leaving well, and I was disappointed I went away from my game-plan in the Tests."

Quick Single: Proteas make history to win series 3-2

The opening position has been a constant source of frustration for England since Andrew Strauss retired in 2012, with eight players – Nick Compton, Joe Root, Michael Carberry, Sam Robson, Jonathan Trott, Adam Lyth, Moeen Ali and Hales – tried alongside Cook at the top of the order.

Coach Trevor Bayliss last month raised the prospect of another change in the near future, offering that Hales and Compton – who batted at No.3 in South Africa – could swap positions.

For now, though, England are focused on white-ball cricket and their preparations for the ICC World T20 in India.

Having become just the third team in ODI history (after South Africa against Pakistan in 2003 and Bangladesh against Zimbabwe in 2005) to lose a five-match series 3-2 having been 2-0 up, Hales says his side can bounce back in the first T20 in Cape Town.

And he says England – who have won their past six T20 matches – can go all the way and win the World T20 for the second time.

"I don't see why not," Hales said. "It's definitely the best side I've been involved with in Twenty20, with a hell of lot of young ball-strikers and a good bowling attack as well.

"I think it's a really exciting time, with the talent and firepower we have in our squad, people who can hit sixes all the way down to No.11.

"I think we've got a good chance. The last couple of years we've played some really good Twenty20 cricket.

"We have got some momentum heading into these games but these guys are a very good Twenty20 side, so it's important for us we do find some form heading into that big tournament."