ENG vs IND 2018: Alex Hales Set to Make Way for Returning Ben Stokes in Series-Decider

It does not happen every day that a player is unsure of his place in the playing eleven despite playing a match-winning knock. But England is so spoilt for choices at the moment that no one’s spot is safe. And Alex Hales believes his place is perhaps the least certain in the playing eleven as of now.

Hales likely to face axe for Stokes

With Jason Roy and Jos Buttler doing well at the top in T20Is, Hales is having to bat at number three. And even that spot is not safe, as Ben Stokes is all set to return for the upcoming third T20I against India on Sunday.

Hales, however, is aware he may be about to go from match-winner to instant fall-guy if England brings Stokes in the playing eleven for the series-decider.

On Saturday, Hales turned from scapegoat to saviour, as England beat India in the second T20 to keep the series alive. Hales was the star of the show, taking England over the line with 58 not out from 41 balls.  With 12 needed off the last over, Hales released the pressure with a six off the first ball bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and followed it up with a boundary.

David Willey then sealed the deal with a boundary. Hales’ knock came after a difficult outing in the series-opener where he struggled to eight off 18 balls.

But despite the match-winning performance in the last outing, Hales’ place is not specified. And the right-hander admitted he has no easy solution – other than keep trying to win matches.

“I have no answer,” he said. “I’m doing all I can to score runs and keep putting pressure on the guys who know they’re playing. If it’s me that’s left out, you look at the guys who are playing ahead of me, and what can you do?, he added.

Stokes’ inclusion crucial for England

Stokes is returning from an injury and Hales is one of only two plausible options to make way. The other is Test skipper Joe Root, who had fallen twice in succession to India’s wrist-spinners for an aggregate nine runs.

But Root is likely to retain his place which means Hales is the most likely to make way for Stokes.

Meanwhile, when asked how satisfying it was to turn things around with the bat, he said,

“Very – it’s right up there. The game at Manchester was a very, very bad day at the office personally – and as a team, we didn’t quite get going. But it was brilliant to bounce back in a must-win game … (it) shows a lot of character as a team,” he added.