Alex Hales: IPL rejection has helped me become better in four-day cricket

Alex Hales has been in sparkling form for Notts in four-day cricket recently

England batsman Alex Hales, who has been included in the country’s One Day International (OD) squad for the upcoming series against India and is in line to make his ODI debut, said that his rejection from the Indian Premier League (IPL) , earlier this year, has helped him in becoming a better batsman in the longer formats of the game.

"Had I got picked up in the IPL who knows whether we would have been having this conversation now," Hales told the Daily Telegraph.

"I am almost glad that the door shut on me in the IPL and it has given me the chance to work hard on my four-day game. Had I gone to India it would have all been T20 and whacking the ball rather than technique and building and compiling innings," Hales added.

Hales had given his name for the IPL auctions the last two seasons; the 25-year-old’s county Nottinghamshire refused to release him for the 2013 edition, while he went unsold in this year’s auction with none of the 8 franchises showing an interest in the then No. 1 T20 international batsman..

The right-handed opening batsman had been viewed as a T20 specialist until recently, but that perception has changed this season with him making a mark for Nottinghamshire in the County Championship, as well. With a place at the top of the England Test order very much up for grabs, Hales can make his way into the team if he can continue his good form in four-day cricket.

"After the Big Bash, I had a lot of time away to think about four-day cricket and discover that hunger for runs again and building an innings and working hard on my technique. I'm really happy that I have reaped the rewards this year," Hales concluded.