Hales deserves ‘second chance’ for England: Woakes
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|| Desk Report ||
England fast bowler Chris Woakes pitched for opening batsman Alex Hales and said that the batsman deserved a ‘second chance’ to resume his international career again.
Woakes was dropped out of England's World Cup squad owing to his lengthy bad patch with bat. Considering his talent, Warwickshire all-rounder Woakes thinks that Hales should be given a second chance to long his international cricket.
“I don’t know 100 percent if it’s the right decision, it’s not my call,” Chris Woakes said.
“I’m a believer that people serve their time, so to speak. He’s gone through a tough time being left out of the World Cup and going on to see that team lift the trophy must have been difficult for him,” Woakes told reporters while he was asked about the prospect of Hales playing for England yet again.
“I think if people have gone away for a time and worked on their weaknesses they should be allowed a second chance,” he added.
Nottinghamshire’s Hales was the second-highest run-scorer in Australia’s most recent Big Bash and has three of the five highest scores in England’s T20 history, including the highest of 116 not out against Sri Lanka.
His 171 against Pakistan at Trent Bridge in 2018 is second only to Jason Roy’s 180 as England’s highest individual score in one-day internationals.
It’s only earlier this month that England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan said Hales’ behaviour had been “extremely harmful”.
Nevertheless, Woakes said there was no questioning the 31-year-old’s talent. He billed him as a world class cricketer, stating that Hales could be re-integrated into the England squad.
“Alex is a world-class player. I have played a lot of cricket with him from a young age actually,” Woakes said.
“In a way I felt sorry for him but I understand the decision from the management, captain and rest of the team. I don’t 100 percent know what will happen but I’d be happy to see Alex back in England colours,” also said.
“We have a culture and an environment in the England squad where we all try to pull in the right direction. If Alex is willing to do that, then I imagine everyone would be happy to see him back playing for England,” he added.
