Alex Hales admits he could become England bit-part player once again
Monday 18 June 2018 19:15, UK
Alex Hales admits he may become a bit-part England player once again unless he starts making the big runs again.
It was at Trent Bridge, venue for Tuesday's third one-day international with Australia, that Hales hit a then national-record 171 in an all-time high total of 444 for three against Pakistan in 2016.
A sequence of events - starting with his suspension last September following a night out in Bristol which left team-mate Ben Stokes facing a charge of affray - saw Hales lose his opener's slot.
Instead, he follows Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy - the new holder of England's highest ODI score after making 180 in Melbourne in January.
Hales acknowledges that when Stokes recovers fitness, his claims to any place in the order will be tenuous and could lead to him being dropped.
"That'll probably happen, with my batting at three," Hales said.
"That's what happened when we went from Australia into the New Zealand series (last winter).
"It can change quickly. It's up to me to use these three games well and try and score as many runs as possible ... [keep] putting pressure on those two."
Hales accepts there is extra pressure on him, adding: "Obviously. I've got to try and get my place back.
"Those two have come in and done really well since the West Indies series.
"Jonny's been knocking the door down for a few years now, and every time he got a chance, he took it.
"I guess now I'm in that position, where I'm on the fringe and any chance I can get, it's up to me to convert big runs."
"I feel confident heading into the game tomorrow," Hales added, despite being unable to add to his 52 in England's shock defeat to Scotland after contributing just five and 26 in the opening two ODI wins over Australia.
"Mentally, I feel pretty good and playing at (my) home ground, where I've got a good record, I hope I can put in a big performance."
