In a surprising turn of events, England’s hard-hitting batsman Alex Hales has declared his retirement from international cricket, just a few months ahead of the World Cup in 2023.
The announcement has come as a significant blow to the England team, as Hales was known for his aggressive batting style and had been an integral part of the squad for the past 12 years.
Hales made his T20I debut against India in August 2011 and later made his One-Day debut against the same opponents in 2014. Since then, he has represented England in 75 T20Is and 70 ODIs.
In T20Is, he amassed an impressive total of 2074 runs, including a century. In ODIs, he scored 2419 runs, smashing six centuries along the way. Hales also made his Test debut against South Africa in 2015, accumulating 573 runs in 11 Test matches.
Known for his aggressive batting prowess, Hales played a crucial role in England’s triumph at the 2022 T20I World Cup. His spectacular 86-run knock against India in the semifinals helped the team secure a spot in the finals, where they eventually emerged as champions.
Prior to 2022, Hales held the distinction of being England’s highest run-scorer in ODIs, with two remarkable innings of 171 against Pakistan in 2016 and 147 against Australia in 2018.
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During his illustrious T20I career, Hales was once ranked as the world’s number one T20I batsman and was among the most sought-after players in various franchise leagues. He participated in more than ten different franchises worldwide, playing a total of 405 T20I matches and amassing over 11,000 runs at an impressive strike rate of 147.
Hales will be remembered for his aggressive approach and match-winning performances in limited-overs cricket. His retirement leaves a void in the England batting lineup, and the team will need to find a suitable replacement to fill his shoes.
As England gears up for the upcoming One-Day World Cup in October-November, they will undoubtedly miss the services of the prolific batsman, who bid adieu to the international cricket arena after leaving behind a remarkable legacy.