Rain, Hales or shine, Alex needs 'big runs'

Alex Hales knows he has three matches to cement his spot in England’s ODI side before "probably" being dropped for returning allrounder Ben Stokes.

Stokes is set to return from a hamstring injury in time for England's one-off T20 international against Australia in Birmingham and the following ODI series against Virat Kohli’s India.

Hales was England's first-choice opening batsmen until he was suspended alongside Stokes for his involvement in a street brawl outside a Bristol nightclub last September.

Jason Roy took his place at the top of the order and has made the position his own with an England-record 180 against Australia at the MCG in January and 120 against Tim Paine’s side last week in Cardiff.

England's other opener – Jonny Bairstow – is locked in at the top after becoming the first Englishman to hit three successive ODI centuries to take his career average to a whisper under 50, while his strike rate is better than a run a ball.

While Hales returned to the ODI line-up in Australia, in the nine matches since his comeback he’s scored three half-centuries at an average of just 27.11 and strike rate of 79.47, well below his career mark of 94.29.

So given his own performances, the form of England’s opening pair and Stokes' looming return, Hales knows the writing is on the wall unless he puts together a compelling case for retention. 

"Looking at the way it is, that’ll probably happen," Hales said on the eve of England’s third ODI against Australia in Nottingham. "I’ve got to try and get my place back. That’s up to me.

"I guess now I'm in that position where I'm on the fringes and any chance I can get, it's up to me to convert big runs and put some pressure on Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow.

"Those two have come in and done really well. Jonny’s been knocking the door down for a few years now and every time he got a chance, he took it.

"Looking at the way things are now, I'm the one who drops out once Stokes comes back. That's what happened when we went from Australia into the New Zealand series.

"But things can change quickly. It's up to me to use these three games well and try and score as many runs as possible. It's up to me to make sure I can stay in form, stay confident and keeping putting pressure on those two.

"It's absolutely my aim to win back a place in the side ahead of the World Cup. But we have a very strong squad, with some seriously talented players who can't get in it.

"It's good healthy competition and it keeps everyone on their toes. It keeps everyone striving to improve, which is important."

Hales will take comfort playing at Trent Bridge, the venue where he posted a then England record 171 in the all-time highest ODI team total of 3-444 against Pakistan in 2016.

"If I could pick a venue to bat at this would be it, particularly in white-ball cricket," Hales said.

"I'm desperate to score some runs, particularly at my home ground. I'm lucky enough to have a good record here."

Qantas tours of the UK and Zimbabwe

ODI squad: Tim Paine (c), Aaron Finch (vc), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye

England ODI squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (injured), David Willey, Chris Woakes (injured), Mark Wood

T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth

Qantas Tour of the UK

June 7: Australia beat Sussex by 57 runs at Hove

June 9: Australia beat Middlesex by 101 runs at Lord's

June 13: England won by three wickets at The Oval

June 16: England won by 38 runs in Cardiff

June 19: Third ODI, Trent Bridge (D/N)

June 21: Fourth ODI, Durham (D/N)

June 24: Fifth ODI, Old Trafford

June 27: Only T20, Edgbaston (D/N)

Qantas T20I tri-series Tour of Zimbabwe

July 1: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

July 2: Pakistan vs Australia

July 3: Australia vs Zimbabwe

July 4: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

July 5: Pakistan vs Australia

July 6: Australia vs Zimbabwe

July 8: Final