Hales so happy to play with mate Ben
PAIR HAVE PUT STREET BRAWL DRAMA FIRMLY IN THE PAST
ALEX HALES denied he needed to clear the air with England captain Ben Stokes but revealed they have had a sit down in Australia to make sure they are on the same page.
The pair were once close and both involved in a street brawl outside a Bristol nightclub in 2017 that led to Stokes being charged and then acquitted of affray.
While discussing the incident in his documentary Phoenixfrom theAshes , Stokes referred to Hales as “my friend at the time, Alex” and last month hinted their relationship remained frosty when quizzed about their association off the field, saying only: “We’ve both got the same goal to win World Cups.”
Hales returned to the England fold after more than three years in international exile, having been discarded on the eve of their 2019 World Cup triumph following a positive recreational drugs test.
White-ball captain Jos Buttler claimed the recall had the backing of all players as talks were held between Hales and Stokes upon their arrival into Australia ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Hales and Stokes stood alongside one another during the national anthems ahead of the first of three T20s against Australia in Perth before briefly batting together in England’s eight-run victory.
“We’ve sat down and had a chat,” Hales said. “It’s been as good as gold. At the end of the day, we’re here to win a World Cup. I think that’s the most important thing.
Comeback
“We’ve had a really good chat and things have been fine. There’s been no air clearing at all, we just sat down with Jos and said our goal is to win the World Cup. It’s been really good – really smooth.”
Jonny Bairstow’s broken leg paved the way for a comeback for Hales, who is favourite to partner Buttler at the top of the order for
England’s first World Cup match against Afghanistan on October 22 in Perth.
Hales vindicated his selection ahead of Phil Salt by top-scoring with 84 off 51 balls, admitting afterwards he had a few butterflies before going out to bat.
“It was a weird one,” he said. “I hadn’t got nervous for a long time. I don’t know what it was. I put it down to jet lag or maybe the fact that’s it’s heading into a huge six weeks for me.
“It’s something I didn’t see happening a few months ago, especially with the firepower at the top of the order and to get this chance, I’m just really keen to make the most of it and enjoy myself.
“It’s just a shame I haven’t been around the last three years because I feel I’ve been playing the best cricket of my life. I’ve got some lost time to make up for.”
As for whether the next few weeks represent the biggest of his career, he added: “I think it will be right up there.
“I want to play with a smile, hopefully get some good scores and push as hard as I can to hopefully win a World Cup.”
Meanwhile, Liam Livingstone is targeting England’s final T20 World Cup warm-up against Pakistan to return from an ankle injury that he feels has allowed him to have a mental refresh.
An innocuous stumble on a kerb in late August caused extensive ligament damage in Livingstone’s left ankle and, although he is with England in Australia, he has a watching brief for the ongoing T20 series.
While England fear he may also miss their first World Cup match against Afghanistan in Perth on October 22, Livingstone is eyeing their practice contest five days earlier in Brisbane.
He said: “In my head I’m aiming for the warm-up game against Pakistan but if I push it too hard, too early you knock yourself back. We’re trying to get that balance right; push it as hard as we can without aggravating it.
“I wouldn’t want to go into a game not being 100 per cent. Ultimately, there’s no selfish reasons to do that. I don’t think that’s the right thing for me to do and I don’t think it’s the right thing to do for the lads.
“We’ve got an unbelievable squad out here and I certainly wouldn’t want to be representing my country at 90 per cent. It’s improving really quickly. It’s got much better quicker than I thought it was going to.
“Finally we’re at the exciting part of the rehab, we’re getting close and can see light at the end of the tunnel.”