England opener Alex Hales, who played a key role in their T20 World Cup triumph in 2022, has announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect. The 34-year-old has decided to focus on his career in franchise T20 leagues around the world, where he has been in high demand for his explosive batting.
Hales made his England debut in 2011 and went on to play 11 Tests, 70 ODIs and 75 T20Is, scoring a total of 5066 runs across all formats. He was the first Englishman to score a T20I century, an unbeaten 116 against Sri Lanka in the 2014 World T20. He also holds the record for the highest individual ODI score by an England batter, a stunning 171 off 122 balls against Pakistan at Trent Bridge in 2016.
A career marred by controversies
Hales was part of the England team that transformed their white-ball fortunes after the 2015 World Cup debacle, playing with an aggressive and fearless approach that made them one of the best limited-overs sides in the world.
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However, his international career was marred by some off-field controversies that led to his exclusion from the squad for the 2019 World Cup, which England won on home soil. He was suspended for his involvement in a brawl outside a Bristol nightclub in 2017, along with Ben Stokes, and later tested positive for a recreational drug ahead of the World Cup.
He made a comeback to the England team in 2022, after being recalled for the T20 World Cup in Australia. He played a vital role in their campaign, scoring 86 not out off 43 balls in the semi-final against India and helping them lift their second T20 title.
Hales said that it was an “absolute privilege” to have represented his country and that he felt “very content” that his last game for England was winning a World Cup final. He thanked his teammates, coaches, family and fans for their support and wished them all the best for the future.
Franchise cricket over international career?
Earlier this year, several reports claimed that six English players, including some internationals, have been approached by IPL franchises to sign them for long term where they will be playing for the franchise in different T20 leagues around the globe.
Hales has represented several franchises around the world, including Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL, Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League, Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League and Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League.
In his statement, Hales said that he was looking forward to playing in different conditions and learning from some of the best players and coaches in the world. He also expressed his desire to continue playing domestic cricket for Nottinghamshire, where he has been a prolific run-scorer since making his debut in 2008.
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