Veteran English batsman Alex Hales, who lost his spot in the England Test side, said that he is enjoying batting in the middle order in the current domestic season for his County side Nottinghamshire.
The right-hander is currently playing more T20 cricket and he said that he enjoyed that format and credited it for developing his game to the next level. He also said his Doberman puppy Kevin, is his lucky charm.
Hales brought Kevin in July when granting a rare summer holiday. Since then, his batting has been relentless, as he has contributed 485 runs at an electric strike-rate of 206.38 so far in Nottinghamshire’s cause in the NatWest T20 Blast, as well as he has a championship double century. His team will take on Hampshire in today’s T20 Blast semi-finals.
According to The Guardian, Alex Hales said, “A few people have noticed that since he (his pet dog) came along I’ve found some proper form. We’ve been hanging out a lot and are getting on very well. I’ll give him some credit. I wasn’t in a great spot. I hadn’t played any T20 cricket and the guys, who had got us there, like Greg Smith, were playing well.”
Hales further added, “I find it tough flitting between formats, so the T20 block this year has really helped me. I can focus purely on T20 skills, range-hitting and getting my angles right. I feel that’s paid off and pushed me to the next level. I’m in a much better place now.”
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While recalling those days when he was dropped from the English Test team, Hales said that time he realized he wanted to bat in the middle order as he was not enjoying opening. The 28-year-old also reveals that he took to opening during his early days in cricket for Nottinghamshire because there was only that slot left on the side.
He further added on the same, “I just wasn’t enjoying opening. I’d never been particularly fond of it. When I was 20 or 21, trying to break into the Notts team it was the only position available because we had such a strong middle order. Once I was dropped from the Test team, it was an opportunity to take ownership and ask to bat where I wanted, and where I felt would suit me more naturally. If I could have my time again I’d go back to my 19-year-old self and say stay in the middle order! I’m enjoying the change a lot and so glad I made it.”
Alex Hales doesn't want to let hopes down as he keeps knocking on the door until he gets called up to play an Ashes series or T20 cricket around the world. Now, he is pleased to be the part of the inaugural T20 Global League, where he will play for Stellenbosch Monarchs.
He concluded, “Whether the ball is red, white or pink. I’ve got to keep knocking on the door and either I get called up to play an Ashes series, which would be a dream come true, or I go and play T20 cricket around the world, which is just great fun. That’s a win-win situation, isn’t it?”
