England vs India | Alex Hales ruled out of first ODI; David Malan called up as replacement
Alex Hales suffered a side injury during net practice ahead of the first ODI against India and was subsequently ruled out of the first match while he will be monitored on a day-to-do basis for this series. Middlesex batsman, David Malan, was called up as cover for Hales for the upcoming matches.
Sunrisers Hyderabad batsman Alex Hales starred for the home team in their win in the second T20I against Virat Kohli & Co. and managed to score 30 from 24 deliveries in the next match before he was dismissed by a Hardik Pandya delivery. The English batsman looked in fine form and was set to enjoy a spell in the first XI in the ODI team as well as the hosts’ gear up for an intense ODI series.
However, Hales was ruled out of the first ODI game which will be played in Nottingham today due to a side injury that he suffered during net practice. Hales was ruled out of today’s match and will be closely monitored for the rest of the series on a day-to-day basis, the ECB announced today. The 26-year old lad averaged 48 as England lost their Twenty20 series against India 2-1.
Meanwhile, the English team management did not waste any time to call for cover as they brought in Middlesex batsman David Malan into the squad as a direct replacement for Hales. The 30-year old batsman made his debut for England as a T20I player back in 2017 where he demolished South Africa's bowling attack with 78 from 44 balls - the highest T20 innings by an England debutant. However, he hasn’t made his ODI debut for the national team yet and could be given an opportunity to do so in the three-match ODI series which will begin today.
