NAT ANDREAE looks back at Hales' best performances in an England shirt following his retirement from international cricket, after playing 156 times across formats...
On August 4, Alex Hales confirmed his International retirement after a 156-game international career spanning 12 years.
Though Hales played in all three formats, he will be best remembered for his performances on the white-ball stage, setting numerous records before signing off by winning the T20I World Cup in Australia. He scored England's first T20 hundred and made various impressive contributions to colossal ODI totals.
Nat Andreae takes a look at five of his most impressive innings throughout his decorated career…
171 v Pakistan, 2016 - Previous highest ODI score for an England men's batter
With England already 2-0 up and looking to wrap up the five-match ODI series against Pakistan in 2016, Hales hit what was then the highest score for an England men’s ODI batter, falling short of Charlotte Edwards' 173*, as the hosts peeled off a then-record total of 444 for 3.
Having lost opening partner Jason Roy in the sixth over he put on a stand of 248 with Joe Root (85) for the second wicket. Hitting a remarkable 22 fours (still a record for an England man), to go alongside four sixes, he hit 171 off just 122 balls.
In a year in which he also reeled off scores of 57, 99, 65, 50 and 112 in a single ODI series against South Africa, this innings is perhaps the most emblematic of his role in England's white-ball revolution
This Hales innings was one of the earliest, perhaps best, examples of the strategy bearing fruit.
Hales was a key pillar of England's T20 World Cup success in Australia (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
86* v India, 2022 - T20 World Cup semi-final masterclass
Having lost his England place so publicly immediately prior to the 2019 50-over World Cup, following a "complete breakdown of trust" according to captain Eoin Morgan, he returned to the white-ball setup for the 2022 T20 World Cup with a point to prove.
An impressive run of form culminated with a brutal 86 not out off 47 balls in a 10-wicket thrashing of India.
Rohit Sharma's side had posted 168 for 6 from their 20 overs but Hales and Jos Buttler put on a record-breaking 170-run opening stand in exactly 16 overs to ease their side into the final.
It would end up being his penultimate innings in an England shirt and surely one of the most satisfying.
99 v West Indies, 2012 - Records tumble at Trent Bridge
Hales has the unenviable record of being the first man to be dismissed on 99 in both ODI and T20I cricket. The first of these came after a brilliant, match-winning innings against a West Indies side who won the T20 World Cup later that year.
Having posted a respectable 172 for 4 and dismissed Craig Kieswetter in the third over, the tourists would have been confident of their chances.
However, Hales produced a vintage display, hitting 99 off 68 before being bowled by Ravi Rampaul with just four required for victory
Partner Ravi Bopara added 59, with five boundaries, before Morgan finished off the chase -a record-equalling one for England - with two balls to spare.
Hales puts West Indies to the sword in 2012 (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
116* v Sri Lanka, 2014 - Highest T20I score for an England men's batter
England's 2014 T20I World Cup campaign was a forgettable one, winning just once against eventual champions Sri Lanka.
After Micheal Lumb and Moeen Ali were dismissed in the first over by Nuwan Kulasekara, the Nottinghamshire opener romped his way to 116 off 64 balls, the first T20I hundred by an England batter.
His assault on the Sri Lankan attack included a sequence which saw him hit Ajantha Mendis for 24 from five balls.
Defeats to South Africa and then Netherlands - England were humiliated in Chittagong, being dismissed for 88 - meant it stood out as the highlight of an otherwise disappointing tournament.
Australia were crushed by Hales' brilliance in 2018 (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
147 v Australia, 2018 - POTM in England's record
England were a white-ball behemoth by 2018, their transformation from the nadir of the World Cup campaigns in 2014 and 2015 was almost complete.
One of the most memorable junctures before winning both white-ball world titles was the 481 for 6 they recorded against Australia in Nottingham.
It stood for four years as the highest men's ODI total, before England hit 498 for 4 against Netherlands in 2022.
Hales struck the last of his seven England centuries, hitting 147 from 92 balls as the old enemy were put to the sword.
Posted by Marc Evans on 09/08/2023 at 10:51
He was immensely takented but always a moments batsman, like Roy. If you're looking to take the game to the US both would be ideal fodder.
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