Alex Hales responds to Tino Best sledging on Twitter

Image: England opener Alex Hales was involved in a Twitter exchange with Tino Best

Alex Hales got the better of former Windies fast bowler Tino Best in a funny Twitter exchange on Tuesday.

Best, who played 25 Tests and 26 one-day internationals for Windies between 2003-2014, stoked things up before the first ODI at Old Trafford by casting doubts on Hales' ability to handle fast bowling.

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He tweeted that he would have liked to bowl against Hales back when he was playing.

Hales was quick to reply and his response provoked much hilarity online.

Hales made 19 as England went on to win the rain-affected match by seven wickets with 11 overs to spare, thanks largely to Jonny Bairstow's first one-day international hundred.

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It's not the first time Best has come off worse in an exchange with an England player. In 2004 Andrew Flintoff famously told him to "mind the windows" after Best had played and missed several big shots against spinner Ashley Giles. Flintoff's words provoked another big swing and Best was stumped.

Image: Geraint Jones stumps Tino Best during the 1st Test in 2004

Tuesday's defeat means Windies will now have to qualify for the 2019 World Cup, they needed to beat England 4-0 or 5-0 in the series to earn enough points to overhaul eighth-placed Sri Lanka in the ODI rankings and secure a spot in England in two summers' time.

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The second ODI in the five-match series is at Trent Bridge on Thursday, live on Sky Sports Cricket.

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