Managing Director of England Men's cricket Rob Key has revealed that Alex Hales phoned him and "argued" about why he was not selected for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
England made the decision to drop Jason Roy after a stark loss of form, leaving a spot open for somebody else to partner captain Jos Buttler at the top of the order. And Hales, who has not played for England since 2019 after failing a second recreational drugs test, was hopeful of making a return.
However, England instead decided they wanted to promote Jonny Bairstow up the order, with Phil Salt in the squad as a reserve opener. Those plans have now been scuppered after Bairstow suffered a lower leg injury in a freak accident while playing golf that has ruled him out of the World Cup.
