Alex Hales’ continued omission must be down to ‘some other reason’, not just drugs, claims Nasser Hussain

Chaos ensued in the English camp on Tuesday as seven members from the ODI set-up testing positive for Covid-19 forced the ECB to name a completely fresh squad for the Pakistan ODIs. With close to 20 first-team players out of the mix, many expected the ECB to finally hand a recall to estranged opener Alex Hales but that wasn’t to be as the selectors instead opted to pick a young and inexperienced squad. Two years ago, Hales, after failing multiple drug tests days ahead of the 2019 World Cup, was alienated by England, but the continued absence of the 32-year-old opener, despite him piling runs across the globe, has raised eyebrows. 

“As we have seen with other recent indiscretions, people forgive, forget and move on. So there must be some other reason those involved with the team hierarchy do not want him back.”

“To use one of their terms, he is now ‘unselectable’ and you must think that under this present regime, the door is firmly closed on him.”

But despite being alienated from the English set-up, Hales has continued to rack up the runs in leagues across the globe. Earlier this year, the opener finished as the highest run-getter in BBL 10, and he also has been in terrific form in the Vitality Blast, having posted scores of 101* and 60* in his last 5 innings. Hussain labelled Hales ‘an incredible white-ball talent’.

“But, as I say, there must be something else behind the scenes because these are sensible men in charge who will not have taken such decisions lightly.”