Big-hitting Alex Hales feels England strong contenders for World T20 title

Cape Town: England batsman Alex Hales believes his team has the talent and firepower both in batting and bowling to win the forthcoming World Twenty20 cricket tournament scheduled to be played in India in March-April.

Cape Town: England batsman Alex Hales believes his team has the talent and firepower both in batting and bowling to win the forthcoming World Twenty20 cricket tournament scheduled to be played in India in March-April.

England lost their recent One-Day International (ODI) series against hosts South Africa 2-3 despite leading 2-0 after the first two matches. The World T20 begins on March 8 with the final match scheduled for April 3.

Hales impressed throughout the series against South Africa, hitting four half-centuries in the opening four matches before chalking up his second ODI century in the series deciding match on Sunday.

When asked if the national side can win the World T20, the right-hand opening batsman was confident in saying that they can.

 “I don’t see why not. It’s definitely the best side I’ve been involved with in Twenty20, with a lot of young ball strikers and a good bowling attack as well,” Hales was quoted as saying by Sky Sports on Monday.

 “I think it’s a really exciting time – with the talent and firepower we have in our squad, people who can hit sixes all the way down to No 11. I think we’ve got a good chance,” Hales said.

Hales was markedly more comfortable during the ODI series compared to the Test series against South Africa where he was unable to put together a good string of performances.

 “I was obviously very disappointed with how the Tests went. But it was my first crack at it, and I feel I learned a lot from it,” the hard-hitting batsman said.

 “It was good to find some form with the white ball, and I feel in good touch going into these Twenty20s. We’ve got a big couple of months now, with the Twenty20 World Cup,” Hales concluded.