- In an Instagram post, Hales expressed, “I have made the decision to retire from international cricket. It has been an honor to represent my country, and I cherish the memories and friendships I have made throughout my life. I believe it is the right time to move forward.”
Throughout his tenure in England’s jersey, Hales experienced numerous highs and lows, making it an extraordinary journey. His final appearance was a glorious moment for him as England clinched the World Cup title in the finals. However, he faced challenges and was left out of the 2019 ODI World Cup team and subsequently banned from international cricket for three years due to a failed recreational drugs test, just a month before the tournament.
Notably, Hales was a prominent figure in England’s aggressive approach to limited-overs cricket, sharing the stage with players like Jos Buttler, Jason Roy, Eoin Morgan, Ben Stokes, and Jonny Bairstow. His contributions played a significant role in England’s historic victory in the 2019 World Cup. However, this moment of triumph was bittersweet for Hales, as Morgan’s comments on the failed drug test in the media shattered his trust.
After Morgan’s departure, Hales made his return to international cricket, representing England in T20 matches against New Zealand and Sri Lanka last year. He played crucial innings of 52 and 47 runs in the last two group matches, leading England to a 10-wicket victory over the 2007 champions in the semi-final. His partnership with captain Buttler, contributing 86 runs off just 47 balls, which included four boundaries and seven sixes, proved to be a defining moment in the match.
Throughout his career, Hales left an indelible mark in limited-overs cricket. In ODIs, he amassed 2419 runs with an average of 37.79 and a strike rate of 95.72. In T20Is, he scored 2074 runs at a blistering strike rate of 138.35 and an average of 30.95. His remarkable innings of 171 runs off 122 balls against India in 2016 and 180 runs off 151 balls against Australia in 2018 were among the highlights of his career.
In 2022, after being left out of the T20 World Cup squad, Hales made a surprising comeback to England’s T20 team in September last year. In the last two group matches, he played crucial knocks of 52 and 47 runs against New Zealand and Sri Lanka, respectively. His contribution played a vital role in England’s journey to the semifinals, where they defeated India by ten wickets. His partnership with captain Buttler, where he scored 86 runs off 47 balls, was hailed as one of the best moments of his career.
Today, as Alex Hales says farewell to the cricketing scene, we commend his amazing excursion, loaded up with wins, difficulties, and commitments that enduringly affect the game and the fans. His special style and strong stroke play will be recollected and treasured by cricket devotees around the world.