England limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan has said he is open to an international return for Alex Hales – but that it will take more than good form in the Big Bash to earn a recall.
Hales – who is in fine touch for Sydney Thunder with 568 runs in 16 innings – was dropped ahead of England’s victorious World Cup campaign last year.
The opening batsman failed a second test for recreational drug use and Morgan emphasised only time will enable Hales to regain the trust of his teammates.
Speaking to Sky Sports Cricket ahead of England’s ODI series against South Africa, Morgan was asked whether Hales could make an international return.
He explained: “This series, as a starting point, will see guys come in and make their debuts and give people opportunities to stake a claim for positions that have been cemented for sometime now.
“One of our strengths going into the last World Cup was competition for places and guys in those positions becoming not just very good England players but world-class international players.”
