Hales remains in the England wilderness ahead of ODI series
ALEX Hales remains in the international wilderness after England national selector Ed Smith backed limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan’s decision to freeze out the big-hitting Nottinghamshire batsman.
Hales has six hundreds and averages nearly 38 in 70 one-day internationals but has not been selected since his axing from the squad on the eve of last year’s World Cup after failing a second test for recreational drugs.
Morgan explained in May that “more time” is needed before Hales is integrated back into the side, so it was little surprise he was not included in a 24-strong training group to prepare for three ODIS against Ireland.
“I have nothing to add to what Eoin Morgan has said about Alex,” Smith said on Sky Sports.
Just eight members of England’s World Cup-winning squad have been included for the series against Ireland, which will take place between July 30 and August 4 behind closed doors at the Ageas Bowl.
With Test assignments against the West Indies and Pakistan taking place either side of that window, Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Jofra Archer, Jos Buttler, Mark Wood and Chris Woakes are among the notable absentees from the ODI set-up.
The coaching team for the series includes Marcus Trescothick, who has been seconded from Somerset to oversee the batsmen, and England Young Lions coach Jon Lewis, the former Gloucestershire star, who will watch over the pace bowling.
England’s training group ahead of threematch ODI series against Ireland: E Morgan (Middlesex, captain), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), J Bairstow (Yorkshire), T Banton (Somerset), S Billings (Kent), H Brookes (Warwickshire), B Carse (Durham), T Curran (Surrey), L Dawson (Hampshire), B Duckett (Nottinghamshire), L Evans (Sussex), R Gleeson (Lancashire), L Gregory (Somerset), S Hain (Warwickshire), T Helm (Middlesex), L Livingstone (Lancashire), S Mahmood (Lancashire), M Parkinson (Lancashire), A Rashid (Yorkshire), J Roy (Surrey), P Salt (Sussex), R Topley (Surrey), J Vince (Hampshire), D Willey (Yorkshire).