England batter Alex Hales retires from international cricket

By Sports Desk August 04, 2023

England batter Alex Hales has announced his retirement from international cricket.

The 34-year-old played 156 times for his country across the three formats of the game in an 11-year spell, with his last appearance coming in England’s T20 World Cup final win against Pakistan.

Hales, who will continue to play for Nottinghamshire and in T20 franchises around the world, excelled in the shorter forms of the game, ending with 2,419 runs from 70 one-day internationals while scoring 2,074 runs in 75 20-over innings.

His time in the England set-up was not without controversy, though, as in 2017 he was involved with Ben Stokes in an incident outside a Bristol nightclub that saw him charged by the England and Wales Cricket Board and subsequently suspended.

He was banned again in 2019 after testing positive for a recreational drug, an indiscretion which ended his 50-over career.

Hales reflected on his career with pride, saying on Instagram: “It has been an absolute privilege to have represented my country on 156 occasions across all three formats.

“I’ve made some memories and some friendships to last a lifetime and I feel that now is the right time to move on.

“Throughout my time in an England shirt I’ve experienced some of the highest highs as well as some of the lowest lows. It’s been an incredible journey and I feel very content that my last game for England was winning a World Cup final.

“Throughout the ups and downs I’ve always felt a huge amount of support from my friends, family and undoubtedly the best fans in world cricket.

“I look forward to continuing to play for Notts and experiencing more franchise cricket around the world.”

Related items

  • Inglis hails 'hard to stop' Stoinis after ruthless knock Inglis hails 'hard to stop' Stoinis after ruthless knock

    Josh Inglis lauded "hard to stop" Marcus Stoinis as Australia signed off their T20I series against Pakistan in style, claiming a whitewash.

    The hosts raced to a seven-wicket victory with almost nine overs remaining in Monday's third match.

    After Australia's bowlers had limited Pakistan to just 117 runs, Stoinis ensured they signed off their final white-ball assignment in style, with his unbeaten 61 doing the damage.

    Only twice has he bettered that knock in T20Is – versus New Zealand in 2021 (78) and against Oman at the World Cup earlier this year (67*). 

    "It's been a great week. We've had a lot of fun as a group," Inglis said. "It's been really nice.

    "When Stoinis is going like that, he is really hard to stop. One of those sixes was probably the biggest I've ever seen!"

    Stoinis, who was named player of the match, added: "Nice to score some runs on a beautiful wicket but credit to the bowlers who kept the total down.

    "Yeah, I actually told [Haris] Rauf that this is the first time any of us got the better of him! No, he's a brilliant bowler, bowled well this series."

    During their white-ball tour, Pakistan won the ODI series, their first time doing so in Australia in 22 years, but got whitewashed in the T20Is.

    Despite the heavy loss, captain Agha Salman chose to focus on the positive effect the experience will have on their young players.

    "I think in the middle overs, we didn't capitalise on the start," he said. "But lots of positives.

    "The way Usman [Khan] batted, the way Jahandad [Khan] bowled. These youngsters will come good.

    "It's obviously a big achievement winning the ODI series, but we could have done much better in the T20Is."

  • Salt century gives England winning start to West Indies T20 series Salt century gives England winning start to West Indies T20 series

    Phil Salt hit a superb century as England drew first blood in their T20 series against West Indies, with a commanding eight-wicket victory at the Kensington Oval.

    Salt's unbeaten 103 off 54 balls was the highlight for the tourists, who successfully chased down their target of 183 with 19 balls to spare.

    The West Indies endured a difficult start and were reduced to 18-3 and later 117-8, with Saqib Mahmood (4-34) and Adil Rashid (3-32) doing the damage.

    However, the hosts managed 65 runs in the last 5.2 overs to finish at 182-8, with Gukadesh Motie knocking 33 off 14 balls along the way.

    Salt kick-started England's chase with 50 off just 25 deliveries taking them to 73-1 after six overs, with Will Jacks (17) dismissed with the final ball of the powerplay.

    Jos Buttler's first match after four months out lasted just three minutes, as the skipper was caught by Motie for a golden duck.

    However, it proved a false dawn for West Indies, with Salt and Jacob Bethall (58 from 36 balls) safely steering England to victory.

    Data Debrief: Salt completes hat-trick of hundreds as Bethell makes historic half-century

    England put their disappointing ODI series behind them, making history with the highest T20 chase at the Kensington Oval.

    Salt was the hero with his third T20I century, all of which have come against West Indies in the past 12 months.

    Bethell also made history on Saturday. Aged 21 years and 17 days, he become the youngest England player to score a 50 in a T20I.

  • Asalanka leads Sri Lanka to ODI series win over West Indies Asalanka leads Sri Lanka to ODI series win over West Indies

    Sri Lanka wrapped up the ODI series against the West Indies with a five-wicket victory in Pallekele.

    The hosts successfully chased down their opponents' total of 189, giving them an unassailable 2-0 in the three-match series.

    Sri Lanka controlled the early powerplay - Asitha Fernando (3-35) and Maheesh Theekshana (3-25) took two wickets apiece to leave the tourists at 31-4 in the ninth over.

    Wanindu Hasaranga (4-40) then claimed three of his four wickets as Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh and Alzarri Joseph were all dismissed in the space of 14 balls.

    However, Sherfane Rutherford (80 off 82 balls) and Gudakesh Motie (50 not out) steadied the ship to take the Windies from 58-8 to 189.

    Although Joseph claimed Avishka Fernando (9) in the fourth over, Nishan Madushka and Sadeera Samarawickrama both chipped in with contributions of 38 to get the hosts to 112-4.

    Skipper Charith Asalanka (62 not out) led the charge thereon, while Kamindu Mendis (11) comfortably got them over the line with 34 balls remaining.

    Data Debrief: Rutherford-Motie historic stand proves academic for tourists

    West Indies were looking to level the series, but their hopes were not aided by Sri Lanka's impressive bowling.

    Rutherford and Motie did their best. Their partnership brought 119 runs, which is their nation's highest ninth-wicket stand in ODI history, breaking the previous record of 85 between Yannic Cariah and Alzarri Joseph.

    However, it ultimately proved in vain as the hosts secured the series with a game to spare.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.