England Cricket’s assistant coach Paul Farbrace feels Alex Hales’ gutsy 86 against Sri Lanka will give him belief in his ability to thrive at test level.

Hales’ knock came at a pivotal time in the England innings as he helped his side recover from 53-3 after Alistair Cook had fallen for 16, and Joe Root and Nick Compton had both gone for a duck.

While Johnny Bairstow’s superb 140 and James Anderson’s 10 wicket haul understandably took the plaudits from the innings and 88 run win, Farbrace took time to praise Hales’ impact.

“This innings will convince him he can play test cricket,” Farbrace told Sky Sports. “It’s a shame he didn’t get a hundred but 86 runs on that wicket was a fantastic innings.”

The former Chesham Grammar School pupil’s efforts, which helped wrap up victory inside three days, were made all the more impressive by the fact his place in the England test team had been under threat.

England’s winter tour of South Africa yielded only one notable score of 60 for Hales as he laboured to stamp his authority on a role at the top of the order.

His test career has, so far, contrasted wildly with his form in the shorter formats of the game where his free hitting style tends to flourish.

Suggestions had been made that Hales would need to change his approach in the build-up to the three match test series against Sri Lanka.

Farbrace disagrees with this approach though, and insists Hales would be best served by sticking to his guns and playing his natural game.

“There were a lot of people talking about his technique - 'Can he play Test cricket? Is he just a one-day player?' The big thing for him is [to feel] he can play Test cricket,” Farbrace explained.

“There was an awful lot of talk from him about leaving the ball. He was really determined not to get caught behind, caught at slip, and know where his off stump was.

“I think that took him away from his strength, which is through the off side. The idea of standing up and being more positive and looking to score through the off side made him look a lot better in this game.”

The Nottinghamshire batsman will now look to build on a solid start to his summer during the second test which takes place in Durham on Friday.

A win would give England an unassailable 2-0 lead over Sri Lanka in the three match series which concludes at Lords on Thursday, June 9.