Alex Hales has received praise for playing the supporting role to perfection as Jason Roy gunned England to ICC World T20 semi-final glory, and Mick Newell says the final could be the Notts Outlaw’s time to shine.

Hales scored 20 off 19 balls against New Zealand at Delhi. By the time he was out, 82 runs were on the board and England were in total command, such was Roy’s dominance at the other end.

The Surrey man went on to score a match-winning 78, and Nottinghamshire’s Director of Cricket believes Hales can be proud of his contribution in support of his opening partner.

“If you are part of a partnership that makes a huge difference in the match, you can be very pleased,” said Newell.

“The way Jason Roy was hitting the ball, Alex could just sit back a little bit, which isn’t his natural game, and watch his partner whacking fours.

“It suited the pair of them well, but in the final it might be Alex’s turn to go hard from the start. It’s just about opportunities that you get to score.

“Jason faced the first ball and went aggressively in the opening over. That’s the way it went in that game.

“Alex still went down the wicket and buffed a six. He’s still going to take his scoring opportunities.

“But he realised that, if they had a good powerplay the game was all but done after six overs, and that’s exactly what did happen.”

England were considered outsiders for a run to the latter stages of the competitions as their young side aimed to come to terms with alien conditions in India.

Yet they have found a way to defy the formbook, winning consecutive matches against South Africa, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand to book a place in the final.

Newell, part of the selection panel that put the young squad on the plane, says the seven wicket semi-final triumph over the Black Caps was the best performance of all.

“At halfway New Zealand were looking at a very good score, but there were so many plus points in that second ten overs of bowling and the 17 overs of batting,” he said.

“The way England controlled the game in the second half by taking wickets, the quality of the death bowling and the way Moeen Ali was able to dictate the game with the ball as well.

“Liam Plunkett has also been terrific, bowling a hard, aggressive fast bowlers length.

“The bowlers deserve a lot of credit for the way they have got better throughout the tournament.

“We knew we had an exciting team going there, but we weren’t sure how we would play under Indian conditions. What they have done is a fantastic achievement.”

Newell believes the battle between England’s emerging death bowlers and West Indies big-hitters will be crucial to the outcome of Sunday’s final in Kolkata.

“The way it has panned out is very interesting and West Indies versus India was such a good game,” he said.

“With the West Indies it is all about sheer power and six-hitting from players like Gayle, Russell, Sammy and Simmons. It’s all about clearing the ropes.

“India would have been a different kettle of fish because it’s a different type of cricket even though it’s still Twenty20, so it’s a very different challenge.

“I wouldn’t want to say it’s easier because the West Indies have a format of the game here that they are very, very good at.

“With Darren Sammy as captain, he’s got huge enthusiasm for the game and is a player that’s done a great job as a West Indies captain

“If England can do what they did with the ball against New Zealand in terms of the areas they bowled and the yorkers they got in, it becomes difficult for people to whack sixes however big and strong they are.”

 

England are returning to the scene of their Ashes triumph in 2016 for Royal London One-Day Internationals against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

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