Nottinghamshire star Alex Hales has been tipped to be the answer to England’s problems at the top of the order by former Test opener Mark Butcher.

Though England were triumphant in the Ashes this summer there are clearly still weaknesses within the side, one of which is who should lead the team to the crease alongside captain Alastair Cook.

Yorkshireman Adam Lyth failed to repay the faith shown in him throughout the Ashes and has been axed for the forthcoming three-Test series against Pakistan.

And Butcher believes in Hales – who has scored more than 1000 runs in the County Championship this season at an average of 51.05 – England will find in the UAE they have a man tailor-made for the role.

Butcher said: “It’s a real opportunity for him because England have been chopping and changing for a long time since Andrew Strauss retired and they’re very keen to stick with somebody.

“Decent performances in the UAE from him and he could find himself with a really long run.

“Hales has had a really good year, he’s averaged 50, he’s made three centuries, one of them a double, although he didn’t have the best of times in the one-day series at the back end against Australia.

“That’s a little bit of a shame because the goodwill he would have been going into the UAE with has perhaps dissipated a little bit.

“But that’s professional sport and it’s up to him to go out there and grab that opportunity. If he plays well, he could have a good run at it for some considerable time.”

England’s last trip to UAE saw them lose all three Tests comprehensively to Pakistan, the lowlight being skittled for 72 in the second innings of the second match to confirm defeat in the series.

And Butcher believes England must brace themselves for another difficult three-Test series in the Arabian Peninsula.

He added: “It’s going to be very tough for England in the UAE.

“Last time we played Pakistan, we lost 3-0 and we were a very good side, we’d just gone to number one in the world.

“This team has a little bit to go until then, so it’s going to be very tough. But they surprised us in the Ashes, and who knows, they could do it again.”

For more reaction and a look back at this season’s LV= County Championship visit LV.com/cricket