Alex Hales is in danger of becoming a household name. Synonymous now with explosive batting in Twenty20 cricket, Hales became the first Englishman to score a century in the game’s shortest format in their victory over Sri Lanka in this spring’s ICC World Twenty 20.
He had threatened breaking three figures before. In 2013 he scored 94 against Australia, while in 2012 he fell one agonising run short of his century against the West Indies at Trent Bridge.
While struggling for form in the four-day game over the past few years, Hales has been exceptional in white ball cricket for Nottinghamshire, his partnership with Michael Lumb has become feared in the limited-overs game.
The tall right-hander, who started out as an MCC Young Cricketer, has excelled for Nottinghamshire, as well as twice appearing in Australia’s KFC Big Bash T20 and spent much of the winter at the summit of the ICC T20 Batsman rankings.
Despite his aptitude for the game’s shorter formats, Hales has reiterated scored 954 runs in the County Championship last term and will look to kick on in all three discplines in 2015 to ensure he remains in the international fold.