'It’s something I didn’t see happening a few months ago'- Alex Hales on returning to international cricket after a three-year exile

Senior batter Alex Hales has said that he wishes to make the most of his second comeback to the England team after being away from international cricket for more than three years. It so happened that Hales had failed a drug test ahead of the 2019 World Cup at home as a result of which he was axed from the England squad.

Apart from that, the explosive opener never featured in a white-ball game for the Three Lions in the next three years under Eoin Morgan's captaincy. However, he did make his presence felt by playing franchise cricket especially the Big Bash League (BBL), Pakistan Super League (PSL), etc.

I want to play with a smile: Alex Hales 

“It’s a chance I thought would never come round again. I want to play with a smile, hopefully get some good scores, and push as hard as I can to win a World Cup. It’s something I didn’t see happening a few months ago, especially with the firepower at the top of the order, and to get this chance, I’m just really keen to make the most of it,” said Hales speaking after his match-winning knock against Australia at Perth.

 “It was a weird one. I hadn’t got nervous for a long time. I don’t know what it was. I put it down to jet lag or maybe the fact that it’s heading into a huge six weeks for me and a chance I probably thought I wouldn’t get again a few months ago, so there were definitely pre-game nerves”, he added.

It is to be noted that Alex Hales was never in the English selectors as well as the team management's scheme of things for the T20 World Cup 2022. However, after Jonny Bairstow ended up with a broken leg due to a horrific golf injury, the top management zeroed in on Hales for the showpiece event down under. 

The power-hitter has an outstanding record in the BBL having amassed 1857 runs from 60 matches across six seasons at an astonishing strike rate of 151.34.  Meanwhile, Hales scored a blistering 84 runs off 51 balls in the first T20I against Australia as England eventually came out on top by eight runs. He was adjudged the Player of the Match for his splendid knock.