Alex Hales: “It has been a long few months but it is great to be back out here”
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England batsman Alex Hales has revealed that it “hurt massively” when he lost his spot in the national team after being suspended.
Hales was suspended following a street brawl outside the Mbargo nightclub in Bristol last September, which saw all-rounder Ben Stokes get arrested.
The incident came midway through England’s ODI series against the West Indies, and given the severity of it, both Hales and Stokes were suspended by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
While Hales was eventually cleared and has since played for England in the ongoing ODI series against Australia, he conceded that being left out of the squad is a feeling he doesn’t want to experience again.
“It hurt massively at the time, to miss two games for something that happened off the field,” he was quoted as saying by BT Sport. “It is disappointing and it will make me enjoy my time in an England shirt a hell of a lot more moving forward and cherish every moment I get on the field.
“In terms of going out in the middle of a series, that is the lesson I have learned from that incident. It is about being responsible when you are on England duty.
“You have eyes all over you and that brings responsibility on and off the field. Responsibility on and off the field is something that will be coming into my game going forward. It has been a long few months but it is great to be back out here.”
Hales used to open the batting for England, but during the time he was out of the side, Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy cemented their spots at the top of the order. As a result, Hales now comes in at No. 3.
Despite this, Hales is glad to be back in the squad and is determined to keep piling on the runs following his knock of 57 in the second ODI against Australia in Brisbane.
“I missed the last two ODIs (against the West Indies) and that allowed other guys to come in and do very well,” Hales said. “Hopefully I can put that stuff in the past and now I’m looking forward to hopefully contributing to a series win. Some runs on a personal level would be great but being out there makes you realise you should cherish playing for England and the last couple of games have been really enjoyable.
“It is up to me now to score as many runs as I can. Playing for England is a massive honour, especially with a World Cup coming up at home next year.”
In the first ODI in Melbourne, Roy produced a record-breaking performance as he smashed a scintillating 180, which is the highest score by an England player in ODI history.
With Bairstow also among the runs after scoring a brilliant 60 in Brisbane, there is speculation that Stokes will continue to be left out of the squad, even though he has been cleared to play for England.
Stokes has been charged with affray for his involvement in the incident outside the nightclub and will now have to appear at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on February 13.
“Imagine that! I think he will be alright,” Hales said about Stokes. “I am sure he will be (hurting), he’s an incredibly proud guy and we are looking forward to welcoming him back in the squad. He is a huge player for England.”