Back from exile, Hales delivers for England at T20 World Cup semi
again, and to get a chance is a special feeling,” said Hales, who smashed seven sixes around Adelaide Oval to silence a crowd dominated by India fans.
Hales was overlooked for England’s initial World Cup squad for Australia but opportunity knocked when Jonny Bairstow was ruled out after a freak injury on the golf course. Hales’s inclusion was seen as a risk by some pundits and his patchy lead-up form spilled into the early matches at the tournament with 19 against Afghanistan and seven versus Ireland.
He shrugged that off with 52 against New Zealand in a big partnership with Buttler and top-scored for England against Sri Lanka that put his team in the last four. “He’s so mentally tough to bowl at. It was fantastic to watch him go about his business,” said Buttler. –