T20 World Cup 2022: How Alex Hales made the best of the circumstances and led England to the semi-finals?

Ben Stokes did well to hang in there when the going got tough, and England lost wickets for fun through the middle overs. 

But one of the reasons he could not worry about the asking rate was Alex Hales’ assault at the top of the order. His 30-ball 47 helped England get well ahead of the asking rate. 

As such, they were in no danger of getting overwhelmed by the run rate – especially since they knew a win by any margin would guarantee their spot in the semis. 

It is, in many ways fitting that Alex Hales was the man to play such a crucial knock at this point. He’s familiar with Australian conditions, having played many seasons of the Big Bash League (BBL). 

But it is the circumstances behind his inclusion in the team, to begin with, that makes this such a vital innings. After all, right up until a few months back, Alex Hales was nowhere in the England scheme of things. 

This wasn’t down to his performances but due to a recreational drug test failure ahead of England’s victorious 2019 ODI World Cup campaign. 

The test result was the straw that broke the camel’s back for then-England skipper Eoin Morgan, who left Alex Hales out in the cold. 

It helped, of course, that in Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, and Jos Buttler, England had enough openers that they wouldn’t really miss Alex Hales. 

But earlier this year, things changed. Eoin Morgan announced his retirement, prompted by months of poor form. And Jos Buttler was named his replacement. 

The changing of the guard, in many ways, opened the door back for Hales, as did the poor form of Jason Roy, who wound up being dropped from the team before the World Cup. 

What sealed the deal, however, was Jonny Bairstow’s freak injury before the tournament. Suddenly England was in a quandary, with two first-choice openers ruled out. 

And thus the call went to Alex Hales, who gladly accepted the ring back and has since become arguably England’s key performer with the bat in this tournament. 

For all the star power and big-hitting they possess, England has looked a bit hit-and-miss with the bat. But Alex Hales has played some excellent knocks, and his second coming is proving good. 

It is worth noting that his ability was never in doubt. However, Eoin Morgan was too keen to keep Alex Hales out of the team mainly due to what he felt was a breach of personal trust. 

Alex Hales will now hope that his second string of life in the England team goes much better than his first one – and it might even start with World Cup glory down under.