HALES GUNNING TO BE TEST MIDDLE MAN

Alex HAles is determined to reclaim his Test spot — but as a middle-order batsman rather than an opener.

Hales, who is set to return for england in tomorrow’s third one- day international against West Indies, has used a quiet winter to reassess his goals following the success of Haseeb Hameed and Keaton Jennings in India.

After withdrawing from the tour to Bangladesh for security reasons, Hales was replaced in the Test team by Hameed, then broke his right hand in the one-day series in India in January.

But england stand-in coach Paul Farbrace said: ‘Not going to Bangladesh has given Alex a lot of time to think about where he wants to be. He’s said he’s going to bat four for Nottinghamshire in the Championship this year, and he sees himself getting back into the Test side in the middle order.’

However, the first challenge for Hales, who has averaged a middling 27 from his 11 Tests, will be to resume his successful one-day opening partnership with Jason Roy as england look to complete a 3-0 clean sweep here. six 50-over matches remain before the start of the Champions Trophy in June and Hales is determined to make up for lost time.

‘sometimes when you go out of the team, you realise what you’re missing and you want it even more when you come back in,’ said Farbrace. ‘He’s in the gym every morning at six o’clock working extremely hard. He’s practising really well and giving himself the best chance.’

Meanwhile, england’s white-ball captain eoin Morgan may decide to enter Friday’s auction for the Twenty20 Caribbean Premier league, which overlaps with county cricket’s NatWest T20 Blast.