England still searching for Cook's partner

England coach Trevor Bayliss says he is still vexed by the issue of who will open the batting alongside Alastair Cook on their upcoming Test tour of the United Arab Emirates.

The England and Wales Cricket Board is expected to name the squad to take on Pakistan in the three Test series today (Tuesday), with the first Test scheduled to begin on October 13.

Nottinghamshire batsman Alex Hales, who opened alongside Jason Roy in the ODI series, has been heavily touted for the Test opener role but failed to impress with 53 runs at an average of 10.6 in the five ODI matches against Australia. 

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Yorkshire's Adam Lyth struggled in the position during the Ashes and averages only 20.38 in his seven Test matches at the top of the order. 

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Adam Lyth had a disappointing Ashes series // Getty Images

Bayliss agreed that the identity of captain Cook's partner at the top of the order "very much" remained a tricky issue for him to contend with.

"One of the things is there's no one out there putting their hand up saying, 'I'm definitely the player to pick'," Bayliss said.

"There's a number of good players who have had OK seasons. I don't think there is anyone who has made five, six, seven hundreds.

"If someone had done that you would be putting them in the team straight away. There's a bit of a message there and an opportunity for county players, that these coming months and next season there will be places available and spots up for grabs."

Bayliss refused to close the door on both Lyth and Hales, even though neither player had done enough to secure the spot for certain.

"I'm sure Adam will be spoken about," Bayliss said. 

"It's a tough season to come in. He played well against New Zealand so he can obviously play.

"And I think Australia's bowling attack in the Ashes, there's not too many better in the world. So I'm sure he'll definitely be spoken about also.

"You like to see them in form whatever style of cricket they are playing. Alex (Hales) has had a reasonably good Championship season so I'm sure he will be spoken about quite highly at the selection meeting."

There has also been talk of spinning allrounder Moeen Ali - who has opened in ODIs - moving up to the top of the order, while batsman James Taylor, who broke through for his maiden ODI century in the third match of the series against Australia, is "desperate" to force his way back into the England Test team. 

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Taylor played two Tests as a 22-year-old back in August 2012, but has since been on the outer for England in the game’s longest format, despite boasting a first-class average of 46.59, with 19 centuries in 131 matches. 

“Like (Moeen Ali), I’m a very versatile player as well, and I’m willing to bat anywhere in the team,” Taylor said after the match at Old Trafford.

“People have seen over the last few years I’ve got a lot to offer in one-day cricket especially, but I think that was a nice little reminder on a turning pitch, where it wasn’t easy to score off the slower bowlers … (they were) similar conditions that we’re going to have in the winter in the UAE. 

“I know we’ll be playing on similar wickets against some good spin bowlers in the UAE, and I’m desperate to get back into the Test side.”