Side strain rules Alex Hales out of India ODI series

England batsman Alex Hales is set to miss all three ODI’s against India due to a side strain. The hard hitting batsman last featured in the third T20 International against India scoring 30 runs off 24 balls in a losing cause for the hosts.

Just before the first ODI at Trent Bridge, the England Cricket Board said that the opening batsman had been left out of the match because of a side injury. He was practising in the nets on eve of the first encounter between India and England when he picked up the injury.

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Eoin Morgan said at the toss that Alex Hales would not have made the final eleven anyway with Ben Stokes back in the side. But he surely was a contender in the coming matches if batsman kept committing mistakes against India’s spin attack.

The predominantly hard hitting opening batsman was forced to play at crucial number three position in the quest to bring Jonny Bairstow at the top. He adapted well during the ODI series against Australia.

Nottingham has been a forte for the English batsman. In the recently concluded series, Alex Hales scored a brutal 147 runs to take England’s score to 481 runs in 50 overs. And moreover England will be unhappy with his absence in the first ODI at Trent Bridge as the 29 year old has won two consecutive man of the match awards for the hosts at this venue.

Dawid Malan who plays for Middlesex is brought in as a batting cover post the eight wicket defeat at Trent Bridge. He will stay with the squad for Saturday’s second match at Lord’s. Though his stay with the team for the final game in Leeds will be decided in due course.

India play England at Lord’s on Saturday in the second ODI of the three match series.