THE WORLD’S number three T20 batsman, Alex Hales, has signed for Worcestershire on a month’s loan from Nottinghamshire as cover for Moeen Ali in the LV= County Championship.
The 25-year-old, who became the first England player to score a century in Twenty20 cricket with a swashbuckling 116 against Sri Lanka in the ICC World Twenty20 tournament in Bangladesh in March, will be available for Sunday’s (May 4) championship clash against Glamorgan at the SWALEC Stadium.
It comes after Ali was named in the England squad for next Friday’s ODI with Scotland in Aberdeen with five ODIs and one Twenty20 international also scheduled between May 20 and June 3.
Hales will also be able to play in the matches with Kent at Tunbridge Wells, starting on May 25, and Surrey at the Kia Oval on June 1, but will return to his parent club for the T20 Blast.
Whether or not he can take part in the home fixture with Essex starting on May 18 will depend on if he is selected for England’s Twenty20 international with Sri Lanka at the Kia Oval on May 20.
Hales has fallen out of favour with Nottinghamshire’s four-day side after appearing in one match against Lancashire in early April which saw him score 61 and 0.
Worcestershire, director of cricket, Steve Rhodes said: “Everyone at New Road is delighted that Moeen has been selected for England in the fixture against Scotland.
“To lose a player of his quality is a blow to the team but to replace him with a loan player who is currently ranked as the number three T20 batsman in the World is a major coup for the Club.
“He is keen to show his abilities in the four day format and impress the national selectors.”
Worcestershire are currently top of the Division Two table after their thumping innings and 64 run win over Derbyshire earlier this week.
