Alex Hales has been keeping an eye on Melbourne’s World Cup final forecast all week, on the off-chance England stormed to the decider and he could have family fly from the other side of the world to see it.
Despite a grim outlook in terms of rain, Hales’ own return to England ranks after an exile of three years demonstrates the value of optimism.
He is adamant that India’s cricketers should be allowed to play overseas T20 tournaments, the better to gain the overseas education that he used to devastating effect at Adelaide Oval to vault England into a 1992 ODI final re-match with Pakistan.
“I’ve had an eye on it all week and it’s an inch of rain,” Hales said in the aftermath of his brutal, unbeaten 86 alongside Jos Buttler. “Just in case, yeah, just because I’ve been talking with family about potentially them flying out and when they should book the flights and thinking it could be a reserve day on Monday.
“So I’ve got one eye on it and it looks like an inch of rain but you never know.”
Words such as “redemption” were batted away by Hales, after he was essentially marked never to play again by the former England captain Eoin Morgan due to a series of disciplinary infractions, specifically involving recreational drugs.
Jos Buttler and Alex Hales celebrate England’s victory.Credit:Getty Images
Suffice to say that Morgan’s retirement helped re-open the door, and the arrival of a new coach in Matthew Mott, while Buttler always kept lines of communication open. A freak golf injury to Jonny Bairstow left a spot wide open, and England’s selectors picked him ahead of a fellow Big Bash League hitter, Phil Salt, at the final hurdle.
“To get the chance to play for England again at a time when I feel like I’m playing the best T20 cricket of my career is a great feeling and maybe a chance I didn’t think would come around again, so keen to make the most of it for sure,” Hales said. “Going to play with a smile on Sunday and hopefully leave with a medal.
“I felt in good touch the last couple of games, it was a bit of a tricky start with the swing and the bounce we had at Perth and Melbourne. But the last three pitches we’ve had have been a bit better to bat on in the power play, so to cash in was just next-level special.”
As for the disparity in BBL experience between England’s players – 10 out of 11 who played in Adelaide had seen at least one season in the Australian competition – and India’s, Hales had a simple message for his opponents: join in!
“It’s a shame that Indian guys don’t get a chance to play in different leagues,” he said. “It would be good for everyone, benefit them and benefit the leagues to have the best players in the world playing.
“[Adelaide] is a ground where I’ve played a lot of cricket in the past and enjoyed some success. To have that sort of mindset before you head out there on a big occasion probably settles the nerves a bit and gives you confidence that you can put on a performance like that.
“Anytime you get the chance to play in foreign conditions makes you a better cricketer and makes you understand those conditions. Hopefully going forward, they get a chance to play in different leagues. It’s definitely helped me, for sure.”
As for the MCG and memories of 1992’s World Cup final won by Imran Khan’s side, Hales does not have any, since he was three years old at the time. But he acknowledges the MCG, wet or not, will ask different questions of England.
“Funnily enough, it’s actually a ground I haven’t had that much success at, the MCG. It’s very different conditions and dimensions to what you get here,” he said.
“But it’s an incredible atmosphere and a big occasion. You have to hit the ball in different areas with the wider boundaries and shorter straight, so it’s very different game plan. We have to make sure we adapt.
“Both teams know each other like the back of our hands. Very strong side, one of the best bowling attacks I’ve faced for sure, and some of the best top order players in the world. Whoever handles the pressure the best will win the tournament.”
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