Alex Hales confirmed as the replacement for Jonny Bairstow at this year's T20 World Cup; Bairstow ruled out after a "freak" golf injury; Jos Buttler will lead the England side in Australia; watch the T20 World Cup in October, live on Sky Sports
Wednesday 7 September 2022 12:39, UK
Alex Hales has been called into England's T20 World Cup squad as Jonny Bairstow's injury replacement after a three-year exile from international cricket.
Hales has not played for England since 2019 amid off-field issues, but his form, combined with Jason Roy's struggles and Bairstow's freak golf injury has given him the chance of an international comeback.
The 33-year-old tested positive for recreational drugs in the build-up to the 2019 World Cup, an incident which then-white-ball captain Eoin Morgan said resulted in "a complete breakdown in trust".
However, the Nottinghamshire right-hander will now form part of the squad heading to Australia in October for the ICC T20 World Cup, along with the preceding IT20 tour of Pakistan and the three-match series against the World Cup hosts.
"Everyone's goal is to win that World Cup for England," said England Test captain Ben Stokes, who will also form part of Jos Buttler's squad for the tournament. "It's an injury which presents an opportunity to someone else.
"Alex is definitely one of the best T20 players in the world and unfortunately after what happened with Jonny we had to pull another guy up.
"Alex is definitely one of the guys bowlers don't want to be bowling at in the T20 format."
England men's director of cricket Rob Key had previously stated the door was open for Hales to make his return, with his past transgressions now forgotten.
"I spoke to Alex Hales, he rang me actually, and he argued why he wasn't there and I think that's quite right too," Key said after the initial England T20 squad had been announced. "I much prefer when these people pick up the phone and say, 'come on then, why wasn't I there?'
"I have a huge amount of respect for that as opposed to people who go behind the scenes moaning about why they've not been picked.
"I've said on a number of occasions that I feel Alex Hales has served his time for his misdemeanours. Now it's on form, selection, and whether we feel they are the best person to go out there."
For Morgan, Hales' ability has never been up for debate. Rather, it has always been a matter of trust.
"There's one thing about Alex, his quality has never been a question," said Morgan. "It's whether the team would like him in the side, or captains can trust him, or the coach, or the selectors.
"Rob Key said he is available for selection, so that means he goes into a pool of players with the likes of Will Jacks, Phil Salt, Will Smeed, that sort of calibre of player.
"But there's no doubt he's extremely destructive and a match-winner."
Sky Sports' Nasser Hussain said Hales would now get in his England team.
"I try and pick people on their ability as a cricketer really," said Nasser. "He did the crime, he served his time, forgive, move on.
"He gets in that long line that Eoin mentioned. It's a bit easier for him now because there is no Morgan, there is no (Ben) Stokes in 50-over cricket. There are a couple of opportunities.
"But obviously at the top of the order you do have Will Jacks, you do have Jason Roy, you do have Phil Salt, you do have Will Smeed.
"But you cannot tell me from what we've seen in domestic franchises around the world that Alex Hales is not a serious cricketer.
"Try and pick your best side. But they may know something else. That inner core of senior players may not want him."
The T20 World Cup is live on Sky Sports this October.
