Alex Hales believes his winter of discontent could yet have a sunny conclusion in the Caribbean as he strives to prove to the England management that his broken hand has fully healed to allow him to resume an international career that, by his own admission, has ground to a halt.
Hales is not officially part of the squad in Antigua but arrived on the island on Tuesday to continue his rehab to the injury he suffered when dropping a catch against India in January. A scan the day before his flight showed the fracture is no longer present and now increasing grip strength on the bat handle is the final test.
The Nottinghamshire right-hander has played a full part in England training since his arrival, however, and Paul Farbrace, the acting head coach, has already stated that the third one-day international against West Indies in Barbados on Thursday could be a possible return date if the progress continues.
“It has been a long and frustrating winter,” says Hales, who after opting not to tour Bangladesh on security grounds in October has played just two one‑day internationals since the end of the English summer. “But during nets the hand feels top-drawer so hopefully I will be good to go at some point on this trip.
“The injury came at a really disappointing time for me and I feel like I missed the boat a bit in India, running myself out in the first game for nine and then breaking my hand in the second and trying to bat with it.”
On the incident itself, when he dropped the subsequent centurion MS Dhoni on 99, he adds: “If there is a moral to the story it is to make sure you take your catches then you won’t break your bones. It was a tough chance but with the standards we set as a team I probably should have taken it.”
Hales reached 14 in his only other innings in India which, added to his missing the tour of Bangladesh and failing to seize his chance at Test level, has meant his right to walk straight back into the one-day side has been queried by some, particularly while Sam Billings has been staking his claim for the spot.
However his four hundreds since the last World Cup, including his record 171 against Pakistan last summer, are matched only by Joe Root in the side. He and his fellow opener Jason Roy have hit three century partnerships during this period, including the 256-run stand against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston last summer that is England’s best in one‑day cricket and was the highest ever target knocked off for a 10-wicket win by any international team.
Hales says: “I really wanted to build on that partnership with Jason this winter after a good 18 months as a team and on a personal level. I feel like I’ve made some good strides forward at the top of the order and have put up some good numbers, but it has sort of ground to a halt which is very frustrating.”
While Roy was picked up in last week’s Indian Premier League auction, Hales was snubbed by the franchises but says he “wasn’t really expecting [to be bought] after my injury and missing a chance to impress on that tour”. Instead he will stay on in Barbados after the England tour to join Nottinghamshire’s pre-season preparations for the start of the county season.
His desire to play Test cricket remains strong and to that end, after conceding he is not a natural red-ball opener following 11 caps and an average of 27 during his run in the side, the plan now – after conversations with Nottinghamshire’s head coach, Peter Moores – is to bat in the middle order for his county.
Next winter’s Ashes tour is the goal, albeit a lofty one given England’s white-ball heavy summer in the lead up to the Champions Trophy.
Hales adds: “The plan is to bat down in the middle order for Notts to give it everything I can and to try and give Test cricket one more proper crack. It is obviously going to be restricted how many games I play for Notts – I think it is about six or seven – but it is going to be up to me to put up some big scores as often as possible and ask the question for next winter.
“An Ashes tour is still something I’m striving to achieve. It is a new challenge for me batting down the order and I’m looking forward to it. It is still frustrating to have missed so much cricket but in some ways it is nice to have a full tank heading into an English summer because it is a busy schedule and you’ve got to be ready for it.
“I’m going into the season with as much energy and enthusiasm as I’ve ever had for the game so hopefully I can use that to my advantage.”
