'Devastated’ Hales reps criticise ECB

Alex Hales's representatives say he is "devastated" by the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) decision to remove him from their preliminary World Cup squad.

Hales was included in the 15-man squad for the tournament on home soil, but it emerged last week that he had been sanctioned under the ECB's disciplinary policy for a second time.

A report in The Guardian newspaper said the hard-hitting batsman was serving a 21-day ban from cricket for recreational drug use.

The 30-year-old has been stood down from this Friday's one-off one-day international against Ireland in Malahide, the upcoming limited-overs matches against Pakistan and the World Cup, which starts on May 30.

Hales's management company, the 366 Group, said the player was "devastated" after assurances from the ECB were apparently "rendered meaningless".

It said in a statement: "We are hugely disappointed at the treatment of our client, Alex Hales, by the ECB.

"The ECB insisted on Alex taking certain rehabilitation measures following his suspension. In line with both the ECB and PCA (Professional Cricketers' Association) guidelines, those measures must remain confidential.

"However, at every stage, Alex fulfilled his obligations and both he and his representatives were given assurances that any suspension, again under the ECB's guidelines, could not affect his selection for the World Cup."

Hales's latest misdemeanour comes just a few months after he was suspended and fined by the ECB for his part in a street brawl in Bristol also involving Ben Stokes in September 2017.

Ashley Giles, ECB managing director of England Men's Cricket, said: "We have thought long and hard about this decision.

"We have worked hard to create the right environment around the England team and need to consider what is in the best interests of the team, to ensure they are free from any distractions and able to focus on being successful on the pitch.

"I want to make it clear this is not the end of Alex's career as an England player.”

Hales has played 11 Tests, 70 one-day internationals and 60 Twenty20 internationals but is now regarded as a white-ball specialist.

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

May 25: (warm-up) England v Australia, Southampton

May 27: (warm-up) Australia v Sri Lanka, Southampton

June 1: Afghanistan v Australia, Bristol (D/N)

June 6: Australia v West Indies, Trent Bridge

June 9: India v Australia, The Oval

June 12: Australia v Pakistan, Taunton

June 15: Sri Lanka v Australia, The Oval

June 20: Australia v Bangladesh, Trent Bridge

June 25: England v Australia, Lord's

June 29: New Zealand v Australia, Lord's (D/N)

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE