Alex Hales, the renowned English opener, has made a sudden announcement of his retirement from international cricket.
Taking to Instagram, he expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to represent England in 156 international matches across all three formats. While he cherishes the lifelong friendships and cherished memories made during his career, he believes it is the right time to step away from the international scene.
Hales’ final appearance for England was in the 2022 T20 World Cup final against Pakistan in Melbourne, where he played a crucial role in the team’s victory by scoring 86 runs off 47 balls. However, it was also reported that he had been dropped from the team along with Ben Stokes due to past issues, including drug abuse and internal conflicts.
In his T20I career, the aggressive batsman scored 2074 runs at an average of 30.95, including one century and 12 half-centuries. In ODIs, he accumulated 2419 runs at an average of 37.79, featuring six centuries and 14 half-centuries. His Test career, though short-lived with only 11 matches, saw him amass 573 runs at an average of 27.28, with five half-centuries to his name.
Hales will be remembered as an impactful player in England’s cricket history, especially for his contributions in limited-overs cricket. As he closes this chapter of his career, fans will undoubtedly cherish the moments he brought to the game.
