Sydney Thunder sign England batsman Alex Hales for Big Bash

Hales joins Chris Morris at Thunder as the team’s second overseas player; last year, both Jos Buttler and Joe Root represented the lime-green outfit with mixed results

Sydney Thunder have signed Alex Hales on a one-year deal ahead of their Big Bash campaign.

Hales, who played a key role as Nottinghamshire reached T20 Blast Finals Day and is currently taking part in the Caribbean Premier League with Barbados Tridents, remains the only man to have scored an IT20 century for England.

However, the batsman has not represented England in any format since March, having fallen out of favour with his national side over a breach of trust after it was revealed he had served a 21-day ban for twice testing positive for recreational substances.

In England’s domestic T20 competition, though, Hales was named his side’s player of the season, scoring 418 runs at an average of 38, including a Finals Day half century.

Hales joins Chris Morris at Thunder as the team’s second overseas player; last year, both Jos Buttler and Joe Root represented the lime-green outfit with mixed results.

“It’s such a hugely respected tournament around the world,” Hales said of his return to the Big Bash, where he has previously played for Melbourne Renegades, Adelaide Strikers and Hobart Hurricanes.

“The standard of cricket is amazing and any chance you get to visit Australia and play over there is amazing, so I’m really looking forward to it.

“Sydney Thunder is the full package. Sydney is one of the best cities in the world, getting the chance to work with Shane Bond – who is a highly respected coach – and it’s a young club, so hopefully I can be part of building a successful family there.

“As an opener you want to be one of the leading run-scorers, so that’s definitely one of my aims.”

Bond, the club’s head coach, added: “He’s one of the best T20 batters in the world. To have someone of his quality available for the whole tournament for us is a great pick up.

“I spent a little bit of time with him at the Mumbai Indians and came up against him when I coached New Zealand and he smacked us a number of times.

“He’s one of the most destructive batters, is an outstanding fielder and is also obviously a highly experienced player.

“Obviously Alex is on the outer with the England squad at the moment, but I think he’s still got a lot to offer so hopefully this is another chance for him to show his maturity and make a claim for the T20 World Cup next year.”