Alex Hales says a return to the England side for their 50-over World Cup defence next year is unlikely.
The opener made a triumphant return to T20 international cricket this year after three-and-a-half years in the wilderness.
Having been given his chance because of injury to Jonny Bairstow, he was restored to the England side for the T20 World Cup.
He played a key role, most notably in the semi-final thrashing of India, as they won the title in Melbourne.
Hales had originally been stood down from international duty in the lead up to the 2019 World Cup after failing a second test for recreational drug use. England also went on to win that competition in his absence.
The next one-day international World Cup in due to take place in India next year.
Hales says his attention lies in T20 cricket, though, including at competitions such as the ILT20 in the UAE, where he will play for Desert Vipers.
“I think for the time being my focus lies purely on T20 cricket,” Hales said.
“It is a format where over the last three years, I have got better at a really quick rate. I think for the time being I am just going to focus on T20 cricket, and probably give [50-over cricket] some thought.
“I know there is a World Cup in India next summer, but for the moment my focus is on this tournament and the T20 franchise circuit. You have to see what the future holds, you just never know.”
After his outstanding innings against India in Adelaide earlier this month, Hales acknowledged playing in a World Cup was not something he thought he would get to do again.
Now he says he is still feeling the euphoria of England’s success.
“It is a special feeling, something I did not think I would get a chance to do again was playing the World Cup,” Hales said.
“I think I will be riding that wave for some time. It has definitely not sunk in yet. I hope I can carry that form into this tournament.”
England win T20 World Cup final
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Ben Stokes and Liam Livingstone of England celebrate victory in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Final against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on November 13, 2022. Getty -
England players celebrate with the trophy. AP -
England celebrate winning the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final. Getty -
Ben Stokes and Sam Curran of England celebrate. Getty -
Ben Stokes and Sam Curran of England celebrate. Getty -
England's Ben Stokes and Liam Livingstone celebrate. AFP -
England supporters celebrate victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. AFP -
Pakistan players wait for presentation ceremonies after losing to England. AP -
Alex Hales, Ben Stokes, Adil Rashid and Chris Jordan of England celebrate. Getty -
Ben Stokes of England celebrates. Getty -
Ben Stokes of England celebrates victory. AFP -
Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi is injured after taking a catch to dismiss England's Harry Brook. AFP -
Shaheen Afridi of Pakistan receives treatment for an injury. Getty -
Ben Stokes of England hits out. Getty -
Adil Rashid of England celebrates after taking the wicket of Mohammad Haris of Pakistan. Getty -
Adil Rashid of England takes a catch off his own bowling to dismiss Babar Azam of Pakistan. Getty -
England's Moeen Ali bats against Pakistan. AP -
Pakistan's Haris Rauf celebrates the wicket of England's Jos Buttler. AFP -
Sam Curran of England celebrates after taking the wicket of the Muhammad Rizwan of Pakistan. Getty -
Pakistan captain Babar Azam bats. EPA -
Pakistan's Shan Masood is beaten for pace. AFP -
Shan Masood of Pakistan receives medical attention after being hit on the helmet. EPA -
Jos Buttler of England leaves the field after being dismissed. EPA -
Shadab Khan of Pakistan hits out on his way to making a score of 20. Getty -
Shan Masood of Pakistan plays a shot. EPA -
England's Ben Stokes plays a reverse sweep. AFP -
Pakistan and England supporters at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. AP -
England's Sam Curran bowls. AFP -
Ben Stokes of England plays a stroke. Getty -
Harry Brook of England dives to make his ground. Getty -
England's Ben Stokes congratulates teammate Sam Curran at the end of his bowling spell. AP -
England captain Jos Buttler plays a ramp shot. AFP -
England's Chris Jordan celebrates with teammate Ben Stokes after dismissing Pakistan's Shadab Khan. PA -
England's Ben Stokes. PA -
Pakistan's Mohammad Wasim bowls. AFP -
Shadab Khan of Pakistan celebrates after taking the wicket of Harry Brook of England. Getty -
Naseem Shah of Pakistan appeals. Getty
The Vipers are one of the six teams in the new T20 franchise league, which will launch its first season in Dubai in January.
Three of the sides – Dubai Capitals, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and MI Emirates - already have the benefit of associations with existing teams in the IPL.
That is not the same for the Vipers. However, their owners are not short of pedigree in sports administration, with Manchester United – for now, at least – also part of their portfolio.
Hales is confident the Vipers can make a success of their debut campaign in the competition.
“I think we can definitely win it,” Hales said. “It is a really strong squad, one of the best I have seen on the squad lists so far.
“If we can get enough guys on the squad in form, we should win.”
