Jonny Bairstow’s bizarre injury at the golf course has paved the way for Alex Hales into the England T20 World Cup squad.
Hales is making a comeback to the international scene after 3 years. Even before Baristow’s injury Alex Hales was being considered by the selectors as a replacement for out of form Jason Roy.
Former England captain, Eoin Morgan was strongly against Alex Hales’ return to the national side. Ever since Morgan has retired from international cricket, the England management seems to have softened its view of Alex Hales.
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Alex Hales had a “complete disregard” for team values
Morgan did not mince words when he talked about Hales’ disregard for team values and how it created a lack of trust between Alex and the team.
Eoin’s disappointment was obvious as Hales had failed two tests for recreational drugs in the run up to the 2019 World Cup. In 2017, Alex Hales and his teammate Ben Stokes were involved in a brawl at a nightclub in Bristol.
While Hales did not face any criminal charges, he was banned for six months from England ODIs.
Letting the numbers talk – Hales’ form makes a strong case for his selection
After all those years, and Hales missing from international cricket since 2019, Ben Stokes seems to be supportive of Hales’ return to the England T20 World Cup squad.
The all-rounders said while talking to the media before the start of England’s 3rd Test against South Africa that everyone’s goal is to win the World Cup for England.
Stokes also said that Alex Hales was one of the best T20 players in the world and no bowler wants to bowl against Hales in the T20 format. And he has some valid reasons to claim that.
Alex Hales scored 259 runs at a strike rate of 152.35 in The Hundred where he was part of the Trent Rockets who emerged as the 2022 champions.
He also reached the 10,000 runs mark in T20 cricket, becoming the first England cricketer to do so.
Alex Hales has been impressive in the Big Bash
Hales hasn’t played at the international level for England since 2019 and naturally, most of his runs in T20 cricket were scored for different franchises around the world.
He joined Sydney Thunder in BBL 2019 and since then has scored 11 half-centuries and a hundred from 45 matches.This experience of playing in the Big Bash has also been a factor in his selection for the T20 World Cup squad.
Hales is also part of the England squad that will tour Pakistan in September for a T20 series. His experience in PSL will come in handy as England tour Pakistan for the first time since 2005.
Alex Hales was the first England player to score a T20I hundred when he smashed 116 runs off 64 balls in the 2014 T20 World Cup against Sri Lanka.
England T20 World Cup Squad – Phil Salt rewarded for his form
3 of the top 5 run scorers in The Hundred have been included in the England T20 World Cup squad.
As the team management decided to drop Jason Roy due to his poor form, Phil Salt emerged as a promising replacement.
Dawid Malan, who was not only the top run scorer in The Hundred, but was also impressive against South Africa in the T20I series, has a strike rate of 148.27 in 2022.
Tymal Mills missed out while Mark Wood and Chris Woakes both made it to the 15-man squad. Mills, along with Liam Dawson and Richard Gleeson are included as travel reserves.
Here is the full England T20 World Cup squad –
Jos Buttler (c,wk), Moeen Ali, Harry Brook, Dawid Malan, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Alex Hales, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Are England top contenders for the 2022 T20 World Cup?
England were absolutely amazing in the last edition of the T20 World Cup where they destroyed every opposition as they made their way to the semi-final.
Had England made it to the final, Australia’s road to the T20 World Cup title would have been more challenging.
With a batting lineup that features some hard-hitting players at every position, England will come in strong this year as well.
While betting sites have priced India and Australia at 4.01 odds each in the outright winner market, these odds are changing as the bookmakers’ view of these two teams evolves.
India were ahead in this market with Australia having higher odds and as India’s struggles with their team composition were evident in the ongoing Asia Cup, the odds seem to be moving in favor of Australia.
Australia haven’t faced any strong competitors this year in T20Is and we reckon it will be England with an upper hand in the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Bet on England at 4.51 odds in the outright winner market with 20Bet.
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- Over 50,000 events per month
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