'Finally a call for him' - Netizens thrilled to see Alex Hales in England's T20 World Cup squad

Hales has been in good touch in franchise-based leagues and would be a great addition to the squad.

By Vaishnavi Thiagarajan Iyer

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Alex Hales
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Alex Hales. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)

The England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Wednesday that Alex Hales has rejoined the English side after a three-year absence and had been added to the squad for both the upcoming T20 World Cup and the T20I tour of Pakistan. Hales, who last featured for England in 2019, has been brought to the team to take the place of wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow.

Bairstow suffered an injury while playing Golf and as a result was ruled out of the World Cup. While it was anticipated that Jason Roy, who had failed to make it to the squad, would get a call, Hales’ inclusion came as a shock for some and as a surprise for many given that he has been out of the setup since 2019.

The decision of Hales’s inclusion in the squad was taken because former English white-ball skipper Eoin Morgan is not in the setup anymore. After learning that Hales had failed examinations for recreational drugs before the 2019 World Cup, the former England captain vehemently opposed his return, accusing him of demonstrating total contempt for the squad's ideals.

Hales' form in shorter format will be an advantage for England

On the field, though, Hales' performance has long been deserving of another chance at the global arena. With 259 runs at a strike rate of 152.35, including a ground-breaking opening partnership with Dawid Malan, he put up a remarkable show at The Hundred 2022 and was one of the finest players for Trent Rockets, who went on to win the championship this season.

Throughout the tournament, he also became the first player from England to surpass 10,000 runs in the T20 format. These runs also include his knocks from the Big Bash League and other franchise-based tournaments where he has been a notable figure. His recall would prove to be the right move for England given the World Cup would be played in Australia and he has the experience of playing the shorter-format games there.

Alongside the World Cup, Hales would also be seen with the English side for the seven-match T20I series against Pakistan which is set to begin on September 20. After the global event in October-November, he will continue to remain with the side for their three-match series against Australia.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Alex Hales’ inclusion:

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