An exciting talent, the 6ft 4ins opening batsman took his chance as a trialist at the end of the 2007 season with a succession of big scores for the Second XI.

He announced himself with 218 against Derbyshire in only his second match with Notts, and followed it up with a hundred against Victoria Emerging Players and two 90s in his next two Second XI Championship matches.

Hales got his chance through former Notts stalwart Jason Gallian, the man he's hoping to replace long-term in the line-up, after Gallian was told of his potential by a mutual friend at Gerrard's Cross, the 18-year-old's club side in Buckinghamshire.

He had also played Minor Counties cricket for Buckinghamshire and smashed 175 against Middlesex Second XI after joining MCC Young Cricketers.

Hales finest innings to date came in the NatWest Pro40 game against Worcestershire in August 2009 when he struck a composed unbeaten 150 only to watch on in vein as Worcestershire denied Notts victory.??Hales’ knock eclipsed the previous best Pro40 score for aNotts batsman, set by David Hussey against Somerset, and stands as the highest score in either division of the competition last season.

Punctuated with a final ball six over the bowlers head, Hales struck 13 fours and 8 sixes setting Worcestershire a victory target of 283 which they reached with 13 balls to spare.