Alex Hales still could make England return but not at the World Cup, says Trevor Bayliss
"He's been a very good player and an important part of this team for the last five or six years. There's no reason why he can't come back"
Tuesday 7 May 2019 20:48, UK
Alex Hales still has a future in international cricket, according to Trevor Bayliss, although the England head coach confirmed the batsman would not be involved at the Cricket World Cup.
Hales was withdrawn from England's preliminary World Cup squad after it emerged that he had been banned from cricket for 21 days for recreational drug use.
However, Bayliss believes the 30-year-old could still return to the England squad, albeit it not in time to feature at the World Cup.
"I think so, very much so," Bayliss said. "That's been relayed to him, we've spoken to him and gave him that message about him in future making the right decisions.
"This team has gone about things in the right way and I suppose in the last 18 months or so they've made strides. They're working very hard to make things right.
"It's a message not just to the players in this team but to county cricketers that how we're perceived off the field is just as important as how we're perceived on the field.
"From Alex's point of view, it is certainly not the end of him. He's been a very good player and an important part of this team for the last five or six years and there's no reason why he can't come back."
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On Hales' withdrawal from the squad, Bayliss added: "I certainly agree with the decision.
"It was a decision not just solely made by the players - I was involved as well.
"Morgs [England captain Eoin Morgan] and I had a long chat about it and Morgs asked the players of their thoughts. I think we have come to the right decision.
"I never had the chance to [play at a World Cup], nowhere near. I can't imagine throwing it away. [Hales] might argue, but it is a message to everyone else out there that those days are over.
"You can still go out and have a few beers and enjoy yourselves, but it's about making the right decisions and choices. Everyone is more than capable of making those right decisions."
Watch England take on Pakistan in the first one-day international from 12.30pm, Wednesday on Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event.
