'Dejected' Bairstow drops Kohli second ball, has to watch him smoke match-winning 77
Jonny Bairstow had a costly spill for the Punjab Kings, giving Royal Challengers Bengaluru star Virat Kohli a reprieve on nought.
Alex Hales says he’d relish the chance to play for England again, but he has no idea if his exile from international cricket will ever end.
Hales hasn’t played for his country since a 21-day drugs suspension resulted in him being thrown out of the 2019 World Cup squad.
But he isn’t giving up hope of a recall after cracking a superb 110 from 56 balls for Sydney Thunder against Sydney Sixers in the BBL on Friday night.
“I have got no idea,” Hales said of his England prospects.
“At the moment I am not thinking about it.
“For me, the most important thing is enjoying my cricket… and that is what I am doing at the moment.
“And if that (an England recall) is the end result, then brilliant… if I get another crack at internationals, great. If not, I will keep on enjoying my cricket.”
Hales was dumped from England’s triumphant 50-over World Cup squad when it was revealed he kept secret from the team a second positive test for recreational drugs.
His continued snub comes as the explosive right-hander described his current batting as his career best.
“This is definitely the best I have played, I feel like it’s in the peak of my career,” Hales said.
“I’m 32 now so I feel like I know my game really well.
“And I am just going to keep looking to impress whenever I get a chance.”
England’s next short-format internationals are five T20s and three ODIs against India in March.
But the 32-year-old appears set to remain on the outer with England selector Ed Smith saying two days ago that he expected “things to stay as they are”.
“No doors are closed in terms of there’s no final decision,” Smith said of Hales.
“It’s not that it’s going to be the same indefinitely. But at the moment, if I had to make a prediction, I would say we’d stay as we are.”
© AAP
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
Jonny Bairstow had a costly spill for the Punjab Kings, giving Royal Challengers Bengaluru star Virat Kohli a reprieve on nought.
Bazball was developed as a strategy devised to use the resources efficiently rather than revolutionize the system.
England's tour of India has ended in abject fashion as the tourists were hammered by an innings and 64 runs inside three days, with…
India have bowled England out for a below-par 218 and cruised to 1-135 in reply to seize early control of the fifth and final…
India have accomplished a nervy run-chase to secure a five-wicket victory against England in the fourth cricket Test in Ranchi. Chasing a modest 192…
In the build up to the India vs England Test series, there were reasonable predictions that India would be the ultimate challenge for Bazball.…