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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Ali Martin

Pragmatism prevails as Alex Hales gets his second England chance at last

Alex Hales England Eoin Morgan Jonny Bairstow World Cup Ed Smith Rob Key Stokes Big Bash League ECB
Alex Hales of Trent Rockets looks on during the Hundred match against London Spirit.
Alex Hales, a player who Rob Key said had ‘served his time’, is back in England T20 World Cup plans. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images

On one level England’s decision to add Alex Hales to their T20 World Cup party was simple. Jason Roy suffered a collapse in form, Jonny Bairstow somehow suffered a broken leg playing golf and in Hales they had a proven match-winner ready to go.

There was a strong case to say the Nottinghamshire opener should have been included before Bairstow’s unfortunate slip on the third tee at Pannal, such has been his proficiency in the shortest formats – those long levers and that impressive strike rate – plus a particular liking for Australian pitches during his spells in the Big Bash League.

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