April 26, 2019, in shocking news, Alex hales was banned by ECB for 21 days for recreational drug use. The world of Alex hales came to standstill as the world cup was just around the corner.
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Alex Hales was a breath of fresh air when he came in. A team burdened by the age-old English limited over beliefs, he was one of the players who dared to defy those tactics. 6′ 5 inches, an imposing figure, his reach was his strength. Combine that with sublime timing and brute force, he was a wunderkind in the park.
He made his debut in the England colors in the format which was tailor-made for him. His ability to give an aggressive start and to smoke the pacers to all parts, Hales was just what the England team needed in T20s. 1644 runs at the strike rate of 137 in T20 and 2419 runs in ODIs at an average of 38. The platform was set for a promising career but surprisingly, it just went downhill for Hales.
Alex Hales being banned just ahead of world cup 2019 set panic and restlessness among the England group. They were favorites to win, but they knew these sorts of things can go a long way in derailing the campaign. The team, captain, and the management lost the trust in Hales And that set the tone for what we can call a demise of a promising career.
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The England team over the years had a fair share of players who stirred the cricket world with controversies. KP, Flintoff, Stokes, and now Hales. But unfortunately, in Hales’s case, captain Morgan and the board are yet not sure if he deserves a comeback in the national colors.
So, when the ECB released the list of 55 players who were selected for the CAMP, the omission of Hales turned many heads. But it also showed how English cricket has evolved when it comes to putting the team ahead of individuals. It showed th at it will require a more than a breakout season in domestic cricket for him to make a comeback.
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Then the question arises, what lies ahead for Hales? For starters, he is 31 now. In limited overs, England has a stable and dynamic opening of Roy and Bairstow. There are people like Banton and Vince waiting in the wing. So, if Hales doesn’t make a comeback soon, things can get really hard for him. Hopefully, the promise Hales once showed will be fulfilled.
