England batter Alex Hales has immediately announced his retirement from international cricket. The 34-year-old signs off from his England career as a T20 World Cup winner, having played his last game in their five-wicket victory over Pakistan at the MCG in November last year.
Hales has been in discussions with England’s management over the past nine months, considering the balance between his franchise contracts and bilateral commitments. Ultimately, he has decided to step away from international cricket while confirming his availability for short-form leagues worldwide.
In a statement, Hales expressed his gratitude for the privilege of representing his country on 156 occasions across all three formats. He mentioned that he has made cherished memories and lifelong friendships during his time in an England shirt. Hales feels that now is the right time to move on from the international stage, and he expressed contentment that his final game for England was winning a World Cup final.
“It has been an absolute privilege to have represented my country on 156 occasions across all three formats. l’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.” Hales said in a statement seen by ESPNcricinfo before publication.
Throughout his England career, Hales experienced both highs and lows. He thanked his friends, family, and fans for their unwavering support during these ups and downs. Hales looks forward to continuing his cricket journey, representing Nottinghamshire, and playing in various franchise leagues worldwide.
“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.” Hales added in his statement.
While Hales last played 50-over cricket four years ago and was not in contention for this year’s World Cup, he would have been a candidate for England’s T20 title defense in the Caribbean and the United States next year. His retirement opens up opportunities for other players like Will Jacks and Phil Salt.
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Hales opted out of England’s T20I series in Bangladesh earlier this year to fulfill a contract in the PSL. He faced another clash of commitments, ruling him out of England’s home T20I series against New Zealand. His decision to prioritize franchise commitments led him away from international cricket.
Throughout his England career, Hales played 11 Tests between 2015 and 2016 as an opening partner for Alastair Cook. He averaged 27.28, with five half-centuries, before being dropped ahead of the 2016-17 winter tours and quitting red-ball cricket before the 2018 county season.
Hales finishes his England career with 2419 ODI runs at an average of 37.79, including 6 hundreds. He is one of only three players to score more than 2000 T20I runs for England, and his lone T20I hundred came against Sri Lanka during the 2014 World T20.
As Alex Hales bids farewell to the international stage, his contributions to English cricket will be remembered, and he will continue to entertain fans with his performances in domestic leagues across the globe.
