Alex Hales called up by England for T20 World Cup after three-year absence

World Cup in Australia. Hales last played for England in March 2019 after the 33-year-old was withdrawn from the preliminary 50-overs World Cup squad that year after the Guardian newspaper reported he was serving a three-week ban for recreational drug use.

He joins the England T20 World Cup squad as a replacement for Jonny Bairstow, who was ruled out of the tournament due to an injury. Former champions England begin their World Cup campaign against Afghanistan on October 22 in Perth.