Alex Hales, the English cricketer, has decided to retire from international cricket at the age of 34. He confirmed his retirement, effective immediately, after discussions with England’s management over the past nine months regarding the balance between his international commitments and franchise contracts. Hales retires as a T20 World Cup winner, having played his last game in England’s victory over Pakistan in November of the previous year.
In a statement, Hales expressed gratitude for the privilege of representing his country on 156 occasions across all formats. He acknowledged the highs and lows of his journey, stating that winning the World Cup final was a significant highlight. Hales had opted out of England’s T20I series in Bangladesh earlier to fulfill a contract in the PSL and was facing another scheduling clash with a CPL franchise later that month.
Hales’ retirement opens up opportunities for young players like Will Jacks and Phil Salt. He made a surprise return to the England team in September after a three-year exile and played a crucial role in their T20 World Cup campaign, with notable innings against New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and India.
His England career saw him play a vital role in the team’s transformation into a formidable white-ball side. He had been part of a destructive opening partnership with Jason Roy and was instrumental in setting up record-breaking totals for England in ODIs. However, his career was not without challenges, including being axed from the 50-over World Cup squad due to a failed recreational drugs test.
Hales expressed appreciation for the support he received from his friends, family, and fans, and he looks forward to continuing his cricket career with Nottinghamshire and participating in franchise leagues worldwide. He concludes his England career with impressive ODI and T20I records, leaving a lasting impact on English cricket.
At the conclusion of his England career, Hales’ ODI record stands at 2419 runs with an average of 37.79, which includes six centuries. He is among the three players to surpass 2000 runs in T20Is for England, with his lone hundred achieved against Sri Lanka during the 2014 World T20, where Ajantha Mendis and Lasith Malinga were part of the opposing team.
