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Hales unsure over England exile

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22nd January, 2021
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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.

Alex Hales of the Thunder bats

(Photo by Chris Hyde – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

“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.”

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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.

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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

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