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Alex Hales: England ODI opener to play only white-ball cricket for Nottinghamshire

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Alex Hales
Alex Hales held the record for England's highest ODI individual score until his 171 was surpassed by Jason Roy's 180 at the MCG in January

England ODI opener Alex Hales has signed a new deal with Nottinghamshire to play only limited-overs matches until the end of the 2019 season.

He follows the path set by England team-mate Adil Rashid, who announced last week he will only play white-ball cricket for Yorkshire in 2018.

Hales, 29, has played 58 one-day and 52 T20 internationals for England, but his last Test appearance was in 2016.

"We respect Alex's decision," said Notts director of cricket Mick Newell.

"He's an outstanding white-ball player. He's entitled to make himself available for whatever format he wants to play.

"We look forward to him helping us win more trophies in that format of the game. He was integral to our success in 50 and 20-over cricket last summer."

Hales was part of the Notts side that dominated domestic limited-over cricket in 2017, winning both the T20 Blast and the One-Day Cup.

The latter triumph was inspired by his brilliant innings of 187, the highest individual score in a Lord's one-day final.

As well as his 434 runs in the 50-over competition at 72.33, he made another 507 runs at 33.80 for Notts last season in 20-over cricket.

He was then part of the England side that beat Australia 4-1 in the One-Day International series against Australia in January.

"I'm grateful to the club for extending my deal," said Hales. "I love batting at Trent Bridge - it's my favourite place to play."

Alex Hales was part of the Notts side that won both the One-Day Cup and the T20 Blast in 2017
Alex Hales was part of the Notts side that won both the One-Day Cup and the T20 Blast in 2017

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261 comments

  • Comment posted by Alan, at 10:58 20 Feb 2018

    I do not blame Hales for his decision, but following Rashid's similar choice this will likely start a trend for players to desert first class cricket in order to follow the money available in the short forms of the game. Quite disturbing in my view.

  • Comment posted by Joff Cardiff City, at 11:04 20 Feb 2018

    He probably knew he was not good enough for the test side so this is a good decision. We are heading for specialist players in the three formats, which has already alluded too.

    Test Cricket is the pinnacle though and always will be.

  • Comment posted by esllou, at 11:05 20 Feb 2018

    With four-day county matches increasingly being played in front of 200 spectators (and a dog) and decisions like this, I see a future where you may potentially only have ENG, AUS, IND and NZ playing Tests and English summers involving four Tests, twelve ODIs and 8 T20s. Is that a future we want? Will we have any say in it? If the game follows the market, I fear not.

  • Comment posted by Dobby, at 14:41 20 Feb 2018

    Sadly we are at the beginning of the end of "real" cricket. It has been the job of the ECB to protect and promote it but they have totally failed to do so!
    Chaotic scheduling, the loss of terrestrial tv, the marginalising of the county game and their obsession with short term money, have all but killed it !
    SHAME ON YOU ECB, SHAME ON YOU !!

  • Comment posted by Isla, at 11:09 20 Feb 2018

    I guess he needs to look after his body so he's fully fit for more 3am booze 'n' bash sessions in Bristol.

    The demands of modern cricket, eh...

  • Comment posted by weststandviews, at 11:10 20 Feb 2018

    Sorry Claret 45, last year at Essex the four day format was stronger than ever.
    Perhaps winning brings in better crowds, and maybe ODI are exciting for results, but give me Test matches 5 day and County Championship any day, and yes I am under 60

  • Comment posted by 931035, at 11:09 20 Feb 2018

    I thought we wanted to play Test cricket again. It's not like England's whole batting line-up is nailed on at the moment. It does look a bit mercenary.

    Rashid and Hales are setting a worrying precedent that will weaken county cricket and hamper our ability to produce Test players.

  • Comment posted by Shupi, at 15:43 20 Feb 2018

    His decision just adds to the yawning gap between the big-heads in the England set up and county cricket. One day the ECB will realise they've killed cricket in this country because of their strategy of chasing a quick buck above everything else.

  • Comment posted by Mark McCue, at 11:02 20 Feb 2018

    So he is now just a mercenary, a one-day gun for hire.

  • Comment posted by M_Hatter, at 10:58 20 Feb 2018

    Utter rubbish this. Don't these player have any aspirations?

  • Comment posted by hainba, at 10:59 20 Feb 2018

    This is now a defined career path for players once they have served an apprenticeship and show a talent in the white ball game they wont need to carry on in the long game. Those who think this is an easy route - one day and especially T20 contracts are based upon short term performance, if you don't perform you will be out. Competition for places in these teams & tournaments will only get harder

  • Comment posted by Jimmy, at 15:52 20 Feb 2018

    So he's basically given up playing proper cricket

  • Comment posted by Kirkhillman, at 11:23 20 Feb 2018

    I don't share the view that the demise of red ball cricket is in sight. As the amount of white ball cricket increases and scoring increases to a point where it can scarcely become higher, people will begin to realise that it is becoming boring. The competitions are already largely meaningless, few people remember who last year's champions were. they will then revert to the real thing.

  • Comment posted by Woodie, at 11:13 20 Feb 2018

    Was never going to be good enough for Test Cricket as always got out to stupid strokes. Now admitted he is a failure and taking the easy way out.

  • Comment posted by GILLY56, at 14:30 20 Feb 2018

    Test match cricket will always be the absolute test of cricketing ability to me but sadly its credibility is being eroded by the short forms of the game. Somehow we must try and preserve it although the measures we can take to do this are something the cricketing authorities will have to deliberate about with some urgency

  • Comment posted by U7108527, at 17:51 20 Feb 2018

    Anyone buying DVD box sets of the Greatest T20 Series Ever? Thought not.

  • Comment posted by Edin-Nth, at 11:44 20 Feb 2018

    Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer the Test Match / County Championship formats.

  • Comment posted by rubyred70, at 15:35 20 Feb 2018

    @156
    If he plays in the Bangladesh Premier League then he is a hypocrite. Afterall, he declined to tour there as an England player remember....

  • Comment posted by matt adams, at 15:16 20 Feb 2018

    An admission that he’s not good enough for Test cricket although the ECB have a lot to answer for as they have destroyed County Cricket with their short term policies....shame on them!!

  • Comment posted by villageblacksmith, at 13:00 20 Feb 2018

    he obviously gets paid enough in hit and giggle formats to pick and choose just white ball... lowest common denominator always seems to win nowadays ... a pretty brainless lazy decision by someone who does not wish to 'test' himself v the best...

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