Sydney Thunder coach Shane Bond slams England for snubbing Big Bash star Alex Hales

Sydney Thunder are stunned BBL sensation Alex Hales is still on the outer over an incident that took place three years ago.

Alex Hales has had an outstanding Big Bash season for the Thunder. Picture: Getty Images

Sydney Thunder coach Shane Bond has joined former England skipper Michael Vaughan in calling on England’s cricket chiefs to explain why they keep refusing to select Big Bash superstar Alex Hales.

In an extraordinary revelation, Bond said no one from the England camp has contacted him to check on how Hales has been conducting himself off the field during his two spectacular seasons with the Thunder.

Hales’ form with the bat has been out of this world but it’s been widely flagged that an indiscretion more than two years ago, when he was suspended for recreational drug use, has him on the outer with cricket officials in his homeland.

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People within the England set-up are saying his omission in national squads is not to do with his form — but the lack of trust from a couple of years ago.

Bond says he will vouch that Hales’s behaviour has been impeccable.

“I’ve read a lot from the England camp about how it’s about trust issues. Well, if that’s the case, I want to know how they signed off on that because I’m still waiting for the phone call about how he’s going over here,” Bond told The Sunday Telegraph.

“If you’re going to make it about trust then you need to do your diligence and see what’s actually happening but he’s been here two seasons and no one’s rung us from the ECB to ask how he’s fitted in and what he’s been doing.

“I just think that’s really unfair because he’s being punished for something that happened nearly three years ago.

“Lots of young men make mistakes but he’s learnt from it and grown up, he’s matured and he’s really good man that is just being punished way too much.”

Hales was reported to have used recreational drugs. He was given a 21-day ban in 2019 for drug use but hasn’t been picked for his country again, despite being one of the highest rated T20 batsmen in the world.

Alex Hales hits out for the Thunder in the Big Bash. Picture: Getty Images

In 2017, Hales and Ben Stokes admitted two charges of bringing the game into disrepute after an incident outside a Bristol nightclub. Stokes was cleared of affray by a court and Hales was never charged. Stokes has continued to represent England.

After watching his stunning performances for the Thunder this season, Vaughan has begun calling on England’s selectors to pick Hales, saying “he’s too good a player” to leave out.

Others are joining the chorus with Bond describing his baffling omission as bearing the hallmarks of a grudge.

“How much longer will this go on because it’s been nearly three years now,” Bond said.

“You’ve seen other incidents in the past where people have been forgiven and moved on so you’ve got to wonder if it’s down to personality clashes rather than actually about trust or whatever it may be.

“What really disappoints me is that no-one from the ECB has given him any clarity about what he’s meant to it and how he can rebuild that trust.

“He’s been a great servant to England cricket and too good a player not for someone to just have the courtesy of letting him know what he needs to do because what’s been happening is really unfair.”

Hales has played 11 Tests, 70 one-day internationals and 60 T20s for his country and holds the record for the highest T20 score for England (116).

For his part, he hasn’t given up hope of playing international cricket again but says he’s still in the dark about what he needs to do to be considered for England selection.

“I really don’t know to be honest, I haven’t got a clue,” he told The Sunday Telegraph.

“The mistake I made was over two years ago now and in a sportsmen’s career that’s a very long time.

“I’d like to think that certain people can get over mistakes in your personal life and move on but all I can do is just keep enjoying my cricket and scoring runs and hopefully get the chance again at some point.”

Shane Bond is stunned England has not contacted him to check up on Alex Hales. Picture: AFP

That bit has been working fine with Hales the leading runscorer in BBL this season, heading into Sunday’s knockout clash with the Brisbane Heat at Manuka Oval.

His tally so far stands at 535 runs, including an all-time single-season tournament record of sixes, and his 56-ball 110 against the Sixers that enabled the Thunder to post the highest total in BBL history.

And all that after he started the season with two golden ducks following two weeks in quarantine where he wasn’t able to breathe clean air because the hotel windows were locked.

“That two weeks in quarantine was definitely one of the hardest things I’ve done but it was worth it,” he said.

“The one thing I never forget is that we’re very privileged to be able to play the game we love, especially when there are so many things going on in the world.

“Everyone here has been great to me from the moment I arrived and it’s great being in this environment.”

Originally published as Sydney Thunder coach Shane Bond slams England for snubbing Big Bash star Alex Hales