Beschwerden » with Ever Banega, Joao Mario and Gary Medel being the firs

It is coming up to four years since the retirement of Andrew Strauss, but heading into the Test series with Sri Lanka, England are still searching for a dependable long-term opening partner for Alastair Cook. Many have been given the opportunity to prove themselves at the top of the order - Joe Root, Nick Compton, Michael Carberry and Moeen Ali to name but a few - but no one has done enough to make the spot their own.Here we look at five of the potential options to join Cook in the middle when England begin their first innings at Headingley later this month… Alex Hales Hales scored just 136 runs in eight innings for England in South Africa The Nottinghamshire batsman is the man in possession having opened up with Cook during Englands series victory over South Africa during the winter. However, Hales struggled to make an impact, making only one half-century as he managed just 136 runs at an average of 17 in eight innings.Yet having shown his class for England in limited overs cricket, the 27-year-old may well be given the chance to prove himself on home soil in the longest form of the game.Hales was certainly in good touch for Notts last summer, hitting three centuries and two fifties with an average just shy of 50, while his 73 against Middlesex on Sunday could prove very timely.Nick Browne Nick Browne is believed to be among those being considered by England The only player in our list plying his trade in Division Two, Browne has the advantage of having opened the batting with Cook for Essex on a number of occasions. Since making his first-class debut in 2013, the left-hander has scored over 4,000 runs with an average just over 41.At 25, Browne has time on his side and the potential to become a mainstay in the side for years to come. Although, after scoring 1,157 championship runs last summer, he has struggled so far in 2016.There have been two half-centuries but there have also been a number of low scores. An untimely dip in form could see him miss out, though he will be familiar with the Sri Lanka attack from Essexs ongoing match against Angelo Mathews men.Adam Lyth Adam Lyth started the season with a century for Yorkshrie Having been drafted into the England squad at the beginning of last summer, Lyth lasted just seven matches - two against New Zealand and five Ashes games - having scored just 265 runs in 13 innings. The Yorkshireman did manage a Test century in the second Test against the Kiwis but was found wanting outside his off stump by the Australians.He has received backing from one former Aussie bowler, though, in the form of Jason Gillespie, his coach at Yorkshire, who believes Lyth is good enough to thrive at Test level. A century in his first County Championship game of the new season showed his undoubted talent but scores of nought and four in the recent clash with Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, live on Sky Sports, will not have helped his chances of a Test recall.Sam Robson Sam Robson averaged 30.54 in seven Tests for England in 2014 Given the records of those who have followed him, Robson may feel a touch unfortunate to have been dropped from the England side at the end of the summer of 2014 having averaged 30.54 and hit a ton and a half-century against Sri Lanka and India.The 26-year-old struggled on his return to county cricket with Middlesex last summer but began the 2016 season magnificently, making scores of 231 and 106 against Warwickshire at Lords. He has been unable to continue that form in the games that have followed but an international recall should not be ruled out.Mark Stoneman Mark Stoneman has been a consistent performer for Durham in recent years The Durham opener has been a figure of consistency in recent seasons, overcoming seamer-friendly conditions at Chester-le-Street to score over 1,000 first class runs in each of the past three seasons, including a career best 1,131 over the course of the 2015 campaign.Stoneman has also had a superb start to the 2016 season and already looks well on his way to another 1,000-run term. An unbeaten century and two half-centuries in his first four games with an average of 84 will not have gone unnoticed by the selectors - whether it is enough to earn him a place in the squad for the first Test is another matter.Who do you think should open the batting for England in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Headingley? Let us know by commenting below or tweet us @SkyCricket...Then head to Sky Sports News HQ and Sky Sports digital platforms on Thursday morning for first news of Englands Test squad to play Sri Lanka. Also See: Pundits pick England squad WATCH: Skys summer of cricket Sky Ashes coverage wins BAFTA WATCH: Root bowls out Stokes! Miles Bridges Jersey . A rainy day saw the former champion Djokovic handle 14th-seeded Frenchman Jo- Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) under the roof on the famed Centre Court. Glen Rice Jersey . Top-ranked Rafael Nadal was also taken to three sets but emerged with a 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-3 win over Tobias Kamke of Germany, while second-seeded David Ferrer joined Murray in making an early exit after a 6-4, 7-5 loss to Daniel Brands of Germany. http://www.hornetsteamproshop.com/Cheap-Malik-Monk-Hornets-Jersey/ . They have watched it from afar. And now they have seen it for themselves. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Hornets Jersey .The Ottawa Senators winger was relegated to a corner seat in the locker-room to allow Daniel Alfredsson to return to his regular stall one last time. Charlotte Hornets Jerseys . So heres what I do when I want to get into the baseball mood—I delve into "The Baseball Project".Liverpool entered the international break just two points behind league leaders Manchester City after a four-match winning streak. Jurgen Klopps side have convincingly swept aside reigning Premier League champions Leicester City, Arsenal and Chelsea as well as taking a point off an undefeated Tottenham side at White Hart Lane. However, there are still the same concerns over Liverpools inability to keep a clean sheet, something which will undoubtedly hinder a title challenge. The Merseyside club have conceded the most goals in the leagues top 10 and are on course to concede over 50 goals this season. Liverpool resisted the urge to dip into the January transfer market last season but if their form continues and they are still in the title picture after the busy Christmas period, Klopp may use the window to bring in reinforcements.With the help of our friends at Football Whispers, whose unique algorithm tracks the likelihood of deals being done, here are a few of names who are likely to be linked with a move to Anfield…Niklas Sule Hoffenheims Niklas Sule has been linked with a move to Liverpool Current Club: TSG HoffenheimPosition: Centre-backLinked By: Daily Mail and BildCurrent Football Whispers Rating: 1.9Highest Football Whispers Rating: 3.6 (23rd May 2016)Towards the end of May the Daily Mail linked the 21-year-old with a move to Liverpool but nothing materialised as the club opted to bring in Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan.However, according to German outlet Bild, the Reds interest in the centre-back appears to have been reignited. The report suggests Liverpool are exploring the possibility of signing the German in January in the hope the 65 giant puts an end to their defensive aerial struggles.This was eluded to on Monday Night Football by Jurgen Klopp when appearing as a guest last month, stating that the team are notorious for conceding an alarming amount of their chances from crosses and set pieces. Sule represented Germany U23 at the Rio olympics Sule, an Olympic silver medalist, has caught the eye of many of Europes big clubs due to his imposing presence, reading of the game and ability on the ball as well as his defensive intelligence. This season so far hes won 13 tackles, six aerial duels and has managed 10 interceptions. Another standout trait, and one that may make him an attractive proposition for Liverpool, is his passing ability. On average he makes 54 passes per 90 minutes and has a 90 per cent pass success rate.Another appealing trait is his discipline. Despite Bundesligas frantic pace, he rarely commits fouls. Having appeared 33 times in the league during the 2015/16 season, he picked up just four yellow cards and has carried on in a similar vein this season, featuring five times in the league without picking up a caution.Michael Keane Keanes form has seen him called up by Gareth Southgate for England duty Current Club: BurnleyPosition: Centre-backLinked By: Kop TalkCurrent Football Whispers Rating: 1.0Highest Football Whispers Rating: 1.4 (3rd October 2016)Keanes rise has been meteoric. The Stockport-born defender started his career at Manchester United and made his debut for his boyhood club in the League Cup in 2012. He then made his Premier League debut for the Red Devils in August 2014. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. Sandwiched between these two debuts for United were loan spells at Leicester, Derby County and Blackburn Rovers. However, it wasnt until a loan move to Burnley in September 2014, which was made permanent in January 2015 for a reported £2.5m, that Keanes career started to develop.He missed just two Championship games last season as Burnley won promotion back to the Premier League and his form alerted the likes of Leicester, who reportedly had a £17m bid turned down, as well as Chelsea, whose reported £25m bid in August was rejected before the London club moved on to sign David Luiz. Keane has been in impressive form for Burnley so far this season One of his strengths is just how dominant he is in the air, winning 15 aerial duels in his seven league games this season. Burnleyy may be a defensive side but Keane manages to complete 81 per cent of the 31 passes he attempts on average per 90 minutes.ddddddddddddKeanes imposing performances so far this season, coupled with the fact he has less than two years remaining on his current deal, mean Burnley may have a task keeping hold of their centre-back in January.Alternatively, Klopp may opt to stick with Dejan Lovren. The Croats form since the appointment of the German has been close to that which convinced Liverpool to pay £20m to sign him from Southampton in 2014. Liverpools Defensive Options - Football Whispers The 27-year-old has won 22 aerial duels and made 13 interceptions already and of the 60 passes he attempts on average per 90 minutes he completes 84 per cent of them. There are signs of an understanding starting to form with Joel Matip at the heart of the defence.Leonardo Pavoletti Leonardo Pavoletti has scored twice in Serie A so far this season Current Club: GenoaPosition: StrikerLinked By: TuttomercatowebCurrent Football Whispers Rating: 1.4Highest Football Whispers Rating: 1.9 (7th October 2016)The 27-year-old striker had a bit of a nomadic career before finding a home at Serie A team Genoa. Since making his debut in 2006, Pavoletti has played for nine teams but it wasnt until his €4m move to Genoa, and the 14 goals and three assists in just 1,917 minutes throughout the 2015/16 season that big teams started to take note. Italian striker Pavoletti is a brute in the air and since joining Genoa and has won four aerial duels per 90 minutes. Pavoletti has been called up by Italy However, hes far from just a target-man and he doesnt just rely on crosses to score his goals. Hes industrious, he works hard when not in possession, a necessity in a Klopp side, and his movement in the final third makes him a real goal threat.If Liverpool did want an aerial presence in their arsenal then Pavoletti is one of the few who provides that as well as work-rate. However at the moment, a move doesnt look imminent with the Football Whispers index score ranking the move a 1.4 out of 5.Geoffrey Kondogbia Geoffrey Kondogbia has made four appearances for Inter this season but has been openly criticised by manager Frank De Boer for his performances Current Club: Inter MilanPosition: MidfielderLinked By: Web CalcioCurrent Football Whispers Rating: 3.5Highest Football Whispers Rating: 3.6 (9th October 2016)Geoffrey Kondogbia and Paul Pogba. That was supposed to be the France midfield for Euro 2016 when both players initially broke through in 2012. It was almost a formality but after Kondogbia failed to settle at Inter Milan following his €31m move in the summer of 2015 he missed out on the squad entirely.New Nerazzurri boss Frank de Boer has openly criticised Kondogbias performances this season and the entire San Siro applauded when De Boer substituted the player against Bologna after only 28 minutes. Kondogbia cost Inter €31m in the summer of 2015 The midfielder has failed to feature in three of Inters last five Serie A matches with Ever Banega, Joao Mario and Gary Medel being the first choice trio ahead of him.Kondogbia would be a welcome addition to the Liverpool midfield as the club look to shore up defensively but not limit their attacking ability. Throughout his entire career Kondogbia has averaged 2.7 tackles and 1.5 interceptions with 87 per cent of his 45 passes finding a teammate per 90 minutes.Comparisons to Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira have been made and its easy to see why. He has the sort of playing profile which would see him thrive in the Premier League. With the Football Whispers index score ranking the move a 3.5 it will be interesting to see how it plays out as January approaches.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the British Masters on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! Also See: VOTE: Liverpool v Man Utd Top 50 Klopp cultivating Reds spirit Man Utds rivalry run Mane follows Ronaldinho ' ' '