Published: Aug 09, 2016, 11:26 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 09, 2016, 11:26 PM (IST)
Alex Hales believes England‘s ongoing series against Pakistan has seen him make progress as a batsman despite a frustrating wait for a maiden Test hundred. The 27-year-old Nottinghamshire opener’s 10 Tests have yielded five fifties, with a best of 94 against Sri Lanka at Lord’s in May. But Hales played an important part in England’s come-from-behind 141-run win over Pakistan at Edgbaston last time out as the hosts went 2-1 up in the four-match series ahead of the concluding Test at The Oval. Hales made 54 in a second innings where he and England captain Alastair Cook (66) erased a first-innings deficit of 103 runs with their maiden century stand as a Test match opening pair. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Pakistan vs England, 4th Test at The Oval
He stated, “The stats said that with a hundred run deficit you only win three percent of the time. So for us to bounce back the way we did when we had our backs to the wall said a lot about our character and it could also deflate them. We cannot afford to get complacent.”
He further added, “We have to show the same amount of hunger and desire here that we showed at Old Trafford (where England leveled the series with a 330-run win) and Edgbaston.” Reflecting on his latest Test fifty, he replied: “I am satisfied but disappointed not to go on the morning after. The period me and Cooky batted at the end of day three was pivotal in setting the game up and if we had lost one or two wickets that session Pakistan would have gone into the fourth day with their tails up. It was a key period in the game.
“On a personal level, the runs have not come as I would have liked so far having got a couple of good balls and played a couple of rash shots, so I made a few adjustments to my technique against the left-armers and still feel I am heading in the right direction. Obviously this series has not quite gone to plan but I have shown people what I can do and this Test is a really important one for me,” explained Hales, looking to cement his place in England’s squad for their tour of Bangladesh and India later this year. ALSO READ: Alex Hales, Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root’s output crucial against Pakistan: Mark Ramprakash
Hales, who made his name in international cricket as a dynamic limited overs batsman, said playing the situation had been one of the biggest challenges of his Test career. “Something I have learnt is not to go out and bat with any pre-conceived ideas. I do not want to be a guy who is known for blocking it nor hits it to all parts. If they (the opposition) bowl well I want to be good enough to see it off and if they bowl poorly still have the intention to hit the bad balls — just play the situation”, he said in conclusion.
