Hales believes his ODI call-up is just around the corner
England batsman Alex Hales has announced that he is hoping his recent performances in the Twenty20 format will earn him a call-up into the ODI squad.
In the recently concluded Twenty20 series against New Zealand, which ended as a 1-1 draw, Hales posted scores of just 21 and five.
However, despite the fact that those two scores may not bolster his case, Hales has delivered on many other occasions, especially in India, where he scored 56 runs off 42 balls and followed that with an outstanding 89 runs from 52 balls while playing for the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League (BBL) earlier this year.
And who could forget his dazzling 99 against the West Indies at Trent Bridge in June last year.
“I’d have to say it would be up there, as one of my highlights,” Hales said. “I was glad to get that Big Bash opportunity – it was a little bit unexpected. I’d literally jumped straight off the plane, and genuinely don’t remember too much about it. But it’s a very strong competition, with very good overseas players, and something I’d definitely like to do again.”
Hales pulled out of playing in the second edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) right at the last moment in order to work on his game.
He has also been banned from playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) by his county side Nottinghamshire since it clashes with the start of the domestic season.
While Hales’ hard-hitting and highly entertaining batting style would add a lot of firepower to England’s top order in ODIs, the problem that national selectors face is how to fit him in with a bank of other players all vying for a spot as well.
Even if he does not make it now, Hales noted that he will continue doing what he has done and believes his time will come soon enough.
“Any chance you get on the Big Bash or international stage means you can stake a claim to play at the top level,” he said. “I’m pleased I did that then. But I’ve still got a long way to go, and a lot of ambition in the rest of cricket. I’m happy with how I’m playing at the moment, still working hard with the management here and the people back at Nottinghamshire. I’m not going to rest on my laurels at all.
“Any opportunity in an England shirt is a time to put pressure on the guys [ahead of you].I didn’t expect to go [to India]. The top order in the ODI side is incredibly strong, and something I’m going to have to work really hard to try to break into.”