Incredibly Special Against The Biggest Cricket Nation In World - Alex Hales Recollects His T20 WC Knock vs India

The 34-year-old English cricketer Alex Hales said that his T20 World Cup knock against India is very special to him since he could do it against the biggest cricket nation. Hales retired from international cricket on Friday (August 04).

While speaking to Sky Sports, Alex Hales praised Jos Buttler and said that to play that special knock along with Jos Buttler was an incredible feeling. Hales also said that he is grateful to play 150 games for the Three Lions across three formats.

“To do that with Jos (Buttler) against the biggest cricket nation in the world was an incredibly special feeling. If you told me as a 16-year-old, dreaming to play for England, that you would get the chance to do it 150 times across three formats, I would have snapped your hand off for it,” Alex Hales said.

Alex Hales also expressed that it is difficult to play bilateral series without any central contract and also mentioned that it becomes a financially tougher decision the more one gets older.

“Being in my mid-30s now, without a central contract, it becomes difficult to play bilateral series… missing out on the franchise gigs, it becomes a financially tougher decision, the older you get. When you’re in the twilight like I am now… it just feels like the right time,” Alex Hales added.

The 34-year-old said that when one is traveling between countries, it is hard to take care of fitness and diet. Hales added that he will be playing for Nottinghamshire for the next six or seven weeks.

“Fitness can be tricky, especially when you’re going to different countries. You’re living in hotels all the time, you’re living out of a suitcase. Keeping on top of your diet can be tricky. I’m probably only with Notts maybe for six, seven weeks of the year, so you have to be very independent,” he further added.

Alex Hales’ stats for England

Alex Hales made his Test debut in 2015 against South Africa following which he played 11 matches and scored 573 runs. In the 50-over format, Hales played his first match in 2014 against India and went on to feature in 70 ODI games and scored 2419 runs with a strike rate of 95.73.

In the shortest format of cricket, Alex Hales made his debut in 2011 against Pakistan and played 75 games and scored a total of 2074 runs.