Nottinghamshire & England batsman Alex Hales is pledging an all-format assault for county and country, as he embarks on a potentially career-defining few months.

With three more One-Day Internationals and two Twenty20s to come in South Africa, the ICC World T20, then a swift return to county cricket with Nottinghamshire to fight for his Test place, Alex Hales has it all on during the early part of 2016.

The 26-year-old batsman steered his country to a 50-over victory over the Proteas on Saturday with a patient, 124 ball, 99.

That Hales was able to curtail his attacking instincts so impressively bodes well for the Test career for which he will be fighting during the early stages of the county season in April and May, after averaging 17 in his debut series of red ball cricket for England.

"Obviously, on a personal note, it didn't go to plan,'' he said. "I've still got a lot to learn, but it was something I really enjoyed and I was really proud to be part of a winning series. Coming here and beating the number one team in the world was a very proud effort.

"A couple of times, I was caught in two minds about whether to defend or attack, particularly outside off-stump. That's something I have to go back and work on in the nets.

“But at the same time it was a great learning curve, and a great place to come and play my first Test series in a really tough environment.

"I guess it's just been a higher standard, and obviously in general a pretty tough place to open the batting anyway.

"It has been a learning curve, and I hope I can take what I learned from it and improve in the summer."

"If I get a chance in the summer, it's up to me to take it," Hales added. "I felt in good touch coming into this one-day series, and it's up to me to go back home and work on my four-day cricket as well, score runs early in the season, when it's toughest to bat, and show I am ready for that May Test match."

While Hales continues to battle for a place at the top of the five day order, his position in both formats of the white ball game has seemingly never been more secure.

Saturday’s 99 was the second successive half-century for the powerful Notts Outlaw, who has played in all 21 limited-overs internationals since the conclusion of the ICC Cricket World Cup.

In T20 cricket he is third in the world rankings and his ODI average lies at a shade below 30, with one century and a 99.

Having seen their opening batsman average 50 in each of the last two Championship seasons, Nottinghamshire supporters know all about his class against the red ball too.

His form having now returned, Hales is ready to fight for his place - and for glory -  across all three forms of the game.

“I did have some questions to answer coming into this series, but I've felt in good touch since we switched to the white ball," Hales said.

"I hope if I can keep this good form going, take it into the Twenty20s and World Cup, I can keep going into the five-day arena into the summer.''

 

The 2015 season saw dramatic last-gasp four day victories, thrilling limited-overs contests and an historic Investec Ashes Test, all in the unique surroundings of Trent Bridge.

Next season, we’d wager, will be no less enthralling and frankly we’d hate for you to miss out.

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