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Alex Hales' three-year exile from international cricket ended Wednesday when he was selected by England as the replacement for the injured Jonny Bairstow in its squad for the Twenty20 World Cup. Hales, a big-hitting opening batter, was dropped ahead of the 2019 Cricket World Cup for what was described by the England and Wales Cricket Board as an off-field incident that led to a suspension. He reportedly twice tested positive for recreational drugs. That led to England's white-ball captain at the time, Eoin Morgan, delivering a scathing condemnation of Hales' behavior, saying he had shown a complete disregard for team values and couldn't be trusted. Hales' return signals a change in policy by England, which is now under the captaincy of Jos Buttler following the international retirement of Morgan this year. Bairstow, England's in-form batter across all formats, had to pull out of the World Cup squad after injuring his leg in what he described as a freak accident while playing golf l
Former skipper Michael Vaughan feels swashbuckling batsman Alex Hales, who is currently playing for Sydney Thunder in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL), deserves another chance in the England T20I squad.Hales was axed from England's (eventual winners) 50-over World Cup squad for failing a second test for use of recreational drug. The wicket-keeper batsman last played for England in March 2019 prior to the ICC World Cup. The 32-year-old cricketer, who is one of the two batsmen to smash a ton in T20Is for England, has been in great form.In the Sydney derby on Wednesday, Hales smashed 54 runs from 33 balls in a losing cause, however, Vaughan was impressed with the batsman's show which included five fours and three glorious sixes."Time is a great healer & @AlexHales1 deserves another chance if a place comes available in the England T20 team," Vaughan tweeted.In the match, Josh Philippe's 64 from 36 balls overshadowed Hales' effort as Sydney Sixers defeated the Thunder by five ...