England opening batsman Alex Hales is the Notts Outlaws’ One to Watch for the East Midlands derby at The 3aaa County Ground this Friday; 7pm start.
Hales is set to turn out for Notts in the NatWest T20 Blast after playing his part in England’s thrilling 3-2 ODI series victory over New Zealand this summer, where he scored two-half centuries as part of a rejuvenated England side.
The 26-year-old has become a key player in the shorter formats of the game for his country, and the new attacking approach of the national team appears to be suiting the destructive opening batsman.
Hales originally came to prominence in T20 cricket and is now recognised as the world’s third best batsman in the format with only India’s Virat Kohli and Australia’s Aaron Finch ahead of him.
Hales scored England’s first ever T20 international hundred in the 2013 ICC T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, where he made an unbeaten 116 from 64 balls in a victory against eventual tournament winners Sri Lanka.
He averages 37.92 in 33 T20 internationals, boasting a highly impressive strike-rate of 138.46 with the batsman also featuring in the Australian Big Bash tournament and the Indian Premier League in recent years.
In last year’s NatWest T20 Blast fixture at Derby, Hales hit 63 from 32 balls to help Notts claim a five-wicket win, while he was also on form at The 3aaa County Ground back in 2011 as he hit a magnificent 40-ball 76.
Derbyshire are back in home NatWest T20 Blast action on Friday 26 June when they welcome Notts Outlaws to The 3aaa County Ground for the eagerly-awaited East Midlands derby.
