England's Alex Hales backed by Chris Woakes after early dismissal
Friday 18 December 2015 12:15, UK
Chris Woakes was quick to defend his England team-mate Alex Hales after the opening batsman missed out again on the second day of the tour match against a South African Invitation XI in Potchefstroom.
Hales could only match his first innings score of eight as England moved to 99-3 before stumps, establishing a lead of 381 after bowling their hosts out for 188.
Uncapped Nottinghamshire batsman Hales spent almost an hour at the crease, facing 42 balls and taking 19 to get off the mark, before playing Junior Dala on.
Hales is expected to make his Test debut in the first Test against South Africa, which begins in Durban on Boxing Day, and Woakes has backed him to find his form before then, with England also due to play South Africa 'A' next week.
"He probably hasn't had the time in the middle he'd like, but we're only two days into the tour and there's plenty of time to get into nick," said the all-rounder.
"He's a great player and he deserves his opportunity. Fingers crossed in the next week or two before the first Test he can get some more time out there and show what he can do."
Zambian seamer Dala was delighted with the dismissal of Hales and said he had taken advantage of the "pressure" situation.
"I knew he hasn't played Test yet so I knew he was under pressure," said Dala. "I just came in and went hard at him, trying to expose the fact he is keen to score runs.
"It looks like he is trying to open up the off side every time he faces the ball. I just tried to keep it simple and tuck him up because he struggles on the leg side.
"In the first innings I was hoping I would bring one back, but I wasn't expecting him to leave it.
"Second innings was a bit back of a length, but the same plan, just tuck him up and he chopped it on.
"It's nice when a game plan comes together."
Dala, who has just finished a stint with Titans in the Ram Slam Twenty20 league, also hopes he has helped point the way for South Africa.
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"With the video analysis we do in cricket we felt we could expose a few of the English top order and maybe that could be good for the Proteas in the Test series," he said.
