Hales hopes ODI form will help keep Test place

England opener Alex Hales is hoping his good form in 50-over cricket will convince the selectors that he deserves another chance to prove his worth as a Test player after an underwhelming series with the bat in South Africa.

The right-handed Hales made his debut in the longest format in the recently completed four-match series against the Proteas which England won two-one.

The 27 year-old however only scored 136 runs in eight innings, including one half-century, but has returned to form with scores of 57 and 99 as the tourists have won the first two games in the ongoing five-match ODI series.

Hales said: "I did have some questions to answer coming into this series, but I've felt in good touch since we switched to the white ball.  

"I hope if I can keep this good form going, take it into the Twenty20s and World Cup, I can keep going into the five-day arena into the summer.

"Obviously, on a personal note, it didn't go to plan. I've still got a lot to learn … but it was something I really enjoyed, and I was really proud to be part of a winning series.

"Coming here and beating the number one team in the world was a very proud effort. A couple of times, I was caught in two minds about whether to defend or attack, particularly outside off-stump.

"That's something I have to go back and work on in the nets. But at the same time it was a great learning curve, and a great place to come and play my first Test series in a really tough environment."