BETRAYED!
Axed Hales claims ECB broke word over spot in World Cup
ALEX HALES launched a stinging attack on his england bosses last night for abruptly ditching him from their World Cup plans — and accused the ECB of betrayal.
Hales insists he was assured a second failed drugs test would not stop him playing for england against Ireland and Pakistan over the next fortnight, and then in the World Cup.
But once details emerged on Friday of why the 30-year-old batsman had been absent from Nottinghamshire matches — expanding on the first explanation of ‘personal reasons’ — the ECB, Hales alleges, dramatically changed tack.
Yesterday Ashley Giles, england’s managing director, ended Hales’s World Cup dream when he belatedly took a hard line on those two failed drugs tests
and dropped a player who was already serving a suspended sentence for his part in the Bristol brawl. That sparked a furious response from Hales, who may have ended his remote chances of playing for England again with the counter-accusations towards Giles and ECB bosses.
His statement, meanwhile, raises questions about who knew what about the nature of Hales’s absence and when they knew it. Sportsmail understands the selectors were unaware he had failed a second test for recreational drugs when they named him in their provisional World Cup squad.
‘We are hugely disappointed at the treatment of our client, Alex Hales, by the ECB following his ejection from England’s provisional World Cup squad,’ said a statement from the player’s management company.
‘Nobody is seeking to excuse Alex’s behaviour and he absolutely recognises and acknowledges that he made a huge mistake. But as part of the ongoing process, both he and his representatives have been involved in many conversations with senior members of the ECB over the past few weeks where Alex has apologised profusely for his actions.
‘The ECB insisted on Alex taking certain rehabilitation measures following his suspension in line with ECB and Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) guidelines. However, at every stage Alex fulfilled his obligations and both he and his representatives were given assurances that any suspension could not affect his selection for the World Cup.
‘ It is unfortunate that a confidential matter made it to the public arena but, even before the publication of the story, Alex had again spoken to key members of the England organisation to express his regret and contrition. At that time, he again took away the message his World Cup place would be judged on playing merit.
‘The fact all those assurances seem to have been rendered meaningless has left Alex devastated. Until the matter became public, the ECB had fully observed their own process and guidelines and given Alex the support and guidance laid out in those regulations.
‘It is now disappointing to learn these guidelines seem to have been disregarded while, in this instance, player welfare would also appear to be low on their list of priorities.
‘While Alex is hurt, the ECB’s decision does not dilute his commitment to the game and he will continue to give everything to Nottinghamshire’s cause. He would also like to wish England teammates well for the World Cup.’
The statement capped a dramatic day after Giles, who along with ECB chief executive Tom Harrison clearly knew that Hales had been serving a three-week automatic suspension for the second failed test at least two weeks before it became public, thought ‘long and hard’ about the best action to take. Hales is a serial offender and had tested management’s patience to the limit.
Coach Trevor Bayliss, indeed, had warned Hales he was in the last- chance saloon during the Caribbean tour earlier this year when he was the target of a newspaper exposé for allegedly cheating on his long-term girlfriend.
But eventually former England spinner Giles, known to be a disciplinarian, took the only action open to England if they are to preserve the integrity of the game. This, after all, is the start of an unprecedented summer and its image has taken several knocks through poor player behaviour.
‘We have worked hard to create the right environment around England and need to consider what is in the best interests of the team,’ said Giles after telling Hales in Cardiff he would miss the trip to Dublin for Friday’s international against Ireland, the series against Pakistan that follows and, of course, the World Cup.
‘We have to ensure the team are free from any distractions and are able to focus on being successful on the pitch. I want to make it clear this is not the end of Alex’s career as an England player. The ECB and the PCA will continue to aid Alex and work alongside Notts to give him the support he needs and help him fulfil his potential as a professional cricketer.’
The immediate beneficiary of Hales’s stupidity looks certain to be James Vince, who is set to be promoted to the final World Cup squad when it is named on May 22 after already being called up for the trip to Ireland and the Twenty20 match against Pakistan in Cardiff on Sunday.
Vince, who made 190 for Hampshire against Gloucestershire in the Royal London Cup last week, was also added to the squad yesterday for England’s five 50-over matches against Pakistan, while Jason Roy dropped out to rest hamstring and back injuries.
The move also increases the chances of Joe Denly retaining his World Cup squad place as another batting option, meaning a fast bowler — probably Tom Curran or Liam Plunkett — will miss out if England remain determined to pick Jofra Archer.
England also added Ben Duckett yesterday, another batsman who has experienced disciplinary problems, and Dawid Malan to their squad to travel to Dublin and face Pakistan in the Twenty20 match on Sunday. Mark Wood has withdrawn as England nurse him towards the World Cup.