Calls to revamp Twenty20 competition

Batsman Alex Hales believes England need to adopt a domestic Twenty20 model akin to the KFC T20 Big Bash League to avoid a repeat of their premature World Cup exit.

The England World Cup squad member, who played for Hobart Hurricanes in BBL|04 after previous stints with Melbourne Renegades and Adelaide Strikers, said a rethink of the domestic structure was necessary to improve their international limited-overs performances.

“The Big Bash is fantastic, I've played in it for three years and really enjoyed it,” Hales said at the launch of England’s T20 Blast competition.

“I'm a big fan of the block system for T20, you dedicate three weeks to a month to hone your skills, all your focus is on T20.

“In the last couple of years in England I haven't had much of a chance to develop.”

Hales said in addition to playing the Twenty20 competition in an uninterrupted block, adopting a franchise system similar to those used in the BBL and Indian Premier League would be an improvement.

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England’s T20 Blast competition currently features teams from all 18 counties.

“Over here you play something different Sunday to Wednesday, then T20 on Friday so you don't get a huge chance to practice your skills,” Hales, the first Englishman to register a T20 international century, said.

“Over there (in Australia and India) they have less teams so the standard is fantastic.

“It's tougher here with the indifferent weather and I don't really know what goes on behind the scenes, but in terms of standard and quality I think the franchise system would work in England.”

Image Id: ~/media/912EA7CDE4404E67999DB5B7B44F4433Players at the T20 Blast launch // Getty Images 

Hales is the second England player to suggest the change, after Melbourne Stars batsman Kevin Pietersen called for a 10-team franchise-based competition earlier this year.

While a host of Australia and New Zealand players are part of the IPL, the only England players associated with franchises are ODI captain Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara.

Hales was one of only two England World Cup squad members to take part in BBL|04, alongside Morgan.

 “I think that's maybe where we got found out a bit in the World Cup, not many guys get exposed to T20,” Hales said.

“There's such a heavy schedule of Test matches guys don't get a chance to play domestic T20. Look at guys like Broady and Jimmy (Anderson), they don't get a chance to play for their counties.

 “It doesn't help that a lot of our guys don't play in the IPL or the Big Bash.

“Other players are constantly playing in front of big crowds and improving their skills and that's not something we had in the World Cup.”

Morgan agreed more of his international teammates would benefit from time in the IPL.

“It’s a great experience for overseas players, an opportunity to learn new skills and improve, keeping in mind the World Cup that happens next year,” Morgan told the Hindustan Times.

“It teaches you how to cope with the pressure, the crowd, and the fact that you are watched by a huge TV audience.

“Only if you play over a few years will it help in improving the skill level. Playing just one season of IPL won’t help.”

Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Finch, Chris Gayle and Kumar Sangakkara are among the players set to feature in this year’s T20 Blast competition, which begins on May 15.