With Jason Roy dropped after a poor run of form and Jonny Bairstow suffering a freak leg break while playing golf, England have a vacancy at the top of the order that either Alex Hales or Phil Salt will fill at the T20 World Cup.
The pair are essentially competing to partner captain Jos Buttler and both can make convincing arguments as to why they should get the nod. Hales has a particularly strong record in Australia, where he is the all-time overseas leading run scorer in the Big Bash, and has more experience and pedigree.
Salt, however, outperformed Hales in the recent Pakistan series and has established an excellent opening partnership with Buttler for Manchester Originals in The Hundred.
