Big-hitting opener was an important part of the limited-over sides until being dropped in 2019 having failed a recreational drugs test.
Alex Hales has announced his retirement from international cricket after leading England’s white-ball revolution.
Alex Hales has announced his retirement from international cricket after leading England’s white-ball revolution.
Alex Hales has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to an England career that lasted from 2011 to last year.
Hales’ retirement, at the age of 34, means that his last game for England will be last year’s T20 World Cup final against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which England won by five wickets. While he only made one in the final, he was instrumental in England’s World Cup victory, notably an 86-run knock in the semi-final against India.
The sequence meant that Hales, who was summoned for the competition following Jonny Bairstow’s fractured leg suffered while playing golf, retires as a World Cup winner. He had been a key member of England’s squad for the 2019 World Cup until being pulled on the day of the tournament for failing a recreational drugs test.
Despite his great performance on the T20 franchise circuit, Hales spent the next three years outside of the England team. Eoin Morgan, England’s white-ball captain until 2022, called Hales’ conduct a “complete breakdown in trust.” Hales had to wait until Jos Buttler took over as captain before being called up.
Overall Hales played 156 times for England across all three formats, including 11 Test matches in 2015 and 2016. The big-hitting opener played a vital role in the side’s limited-overs transformation after 2015. He hit 171, briefly settling a new England ODI record, against Pakistan in 2016 and also scored 147 against Australia in 2018, when England made 481 for six. Both innings were at Trent Bridge, his home ground.
Hales was not part of England’s preparations for the ODI World Cup this year, but he was a strong contender for next year’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the United States. His retirement allows him to play more franchise cricket, however England is now more lenient about players missing bilateral games to play in international leagues. Will Jacks and Phil Salt are two young England players who could compete at the top of the order in T20, while Harry Brook could also be utilized there.
“It has been an absolute privilege to have represented my country on 156 different occasions across all three formats,” Hales said in a statement. “I’ve made some lifelong memories and friendships, and I believe the time has come to move on.”
“During my time in an England shirt, I’ve had some of the highest highs and some of the lowest lows.” It’s been a great trip, and I’m really happy that my final game for England was a World Cup final victory.”
