Durham opener Keaton Jennings has emerged as the favourite to replace Haseeb Hameed after his Test tour came to a halt because of a broken finger.

Hameed made an unbeaten 59 from No 8 on the fourth and final afternoon of the third Test after popping a couple of aspirin, but couldn't prevent England from slipping to an eight-wicket defeat by India, who lead the five-match series 2-0.

And it emerged that Jennings, a Johannesburg-born 24-year-old left-hander who has previously captained South Africa Under 19s, was in line to fly over from Dubai, where he is currently with the England Lions.

South Africa-born Keaton Jennings is in line to replace Haseeb Hameed in the England squad

Hameed has been forced to return home for surgery on his broken little finger

Jennings is pictured in action for Durham against Yorkshire in the T20 Blast last summer

COOK'S PARTNERS Since Andrew Strauss retired, Alastair Cook has had 11 partners at the top of the England innings. They are: Jonathan Trott (72 runs, ave 12) Michael Carberry (281 runs, ave 28.10) Adam Lyth (265 runs, ave 20.38) Sam Robson (336 runs, ave 30.54) Nick Compton (479 runs, ave 31.93) Moeen Ali (84 runs, ave 14) Joe Root (417 runs, ave 41.70) Alex Hales (573 runs, ave 27.28) Ben Duckett (92 runs, ave 23) Haseeb Hameed (219 runs, ave 43.80) Advertisement

Barring a late change of heart by the selectors, Jennings will become Alastair Cook's 11th opening partner since the retirement of Andrew Strauss when the fourth Test begins in Mumbai a week on Thursday.

He rose to prominence during the summer with 1,548 runs and seven centuries – including doubles against Yorkshire and Surrey – in Division One of the County Championship, and has qualified for England following a four-year residency period.

His mother is from Sunderland, while his father is the former South African coach Ray Jennings.

If Jennings is confirmed as Hameed's replacement, he will have fought off competition from Kent's Sam Billings, who has already played 13 limited-overs internationals but is a middle-order batsman and is yet to win a Test cap.

Hameed's finger is strapped up as he speaks with India captain Virat Kohli

Durham opener Keaton Jennings has emerged as the favourite to replace Haseeb Hameed

Billings is highly regarded by ECB batting coach Graham Thorpe, but his inclusion would mean Joe Root opening with Cook, as he did in the second innings in Mohali, making 78.

Instead, a straight swap of Jennings for Hameed for the final two games in Mumbai and Chennai will cause less disruption to the batting order, allowing Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes to move back down to Nos 4, 5 and 6.