England coach Trevor Bayliss predicts tough decisions over England Test squad

England coach Trevor Bayliss predicts "tough decisions" will have to be made when the selectors meet to pick the Test squad to tour Bangladesh and India.

Top of their agenda is whether to include three batsmen in what have become problem positions this summer.

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Alex Hales, James Vince and Gary Ballance have batted at numbers two, four and five respectively in the drawn Investec series against Pakistan.

Yet they sit at seven (Ballance), nine (Vince) and 10 (Hales) in England's series averages, with a combined 498 runs between them, with 22.6 per innings.

England have an established policy of ensuring all players selected are given time to prove themselves, but as Bayliss assessed the team's performance after their 10-wicket defeat at The Oval on Sunday, there were hints perhaps that time may well be running out in some cases.

"They've definitely had a decent run at it," said the Australian.

"We've probably got around a month before we get together and discuss the next Test series, so there will be some tough decisions to be made."

England have struggled to find a long-term opening partner for captain Alastair Cook.

After 11 Tests, Hales is still searching for a maiden century. He would become the first Englishman to own a full set across the international formats if he managed it.

His average of just above 27 means the jury is very much out on his future, especially after a disappointing Test at The Oval in which he made 18 runs in two innings, dropped a straightforward chance at gully and earned himself a £1,500 fine for marching up to the third umpire's room to confront the official about his dismissal to a controversial low catch.