Alex Hales signs Notts contract extension for T20 Blast

The T20 Blast in 2024 is set to run in two main blocks, with the group stage between the end of May and the middle of July, before the knockout phase in September, with the T20 World Cup in June causing the upheaval

Alex Hales has agreed a new contract with Nottinghamshire for the T20 Blast.

The former England opener, who has since retired from international cricket, has signed a one-year extension, taking Hales into his 17th professional season at Trent Bridge.

He has scored 4,687 runs in the Blast, the fifth-most of anyone since the tournament's inception. He has won the competition twice with Notts.

The T20 Blast in 2024 is set to run in two main blocks, with the group stage between the end of May and the middle of July, before the knockout phase in September, with the T20 World Cup in June causing the upheaval.

It is understood, though, that should Notts reach the knockout phase, Blast commitments would override any Caribbean Premier League selection. The situation is less clear with regards to Major League Cricket, which is set to kick off in early July; Notts play eight Blast matches in June, before the US competition begins. But he could in theory miss six group games.

"We're cultivating a team here which I believe will be very capable of competing for silverware for a long time, and I am keen to help the club in that journey," said Hales.

^{Hales has been a long-time regular at Sydney Thunder (Matt King/Getty Images)}

"Hopefully I can set the tone with the bat and pass some experience on to those coming through. I'm particularly excited to see how we can kick on in 2024 with Joe Clarke as captain. He'll be a great leader and, with him, we will be well-placed to press our case again this year."

Hales has long been a white-ball specialist and spent the winter at the Big Bash with Sydney Thunder, before stints at the ILT20 with Desert Vipers and the Bangladesh Premier League with Khulna Tigers.

Peter Moores, Nottinghamshire's head coach, added: "Alex is a player with an unrivalled T20 record for Notts and an immense pedigree in the game, and any side with him in it is stronger as a result.

"He's got a wealth of experience that he can pass on to the rest of the group and he leads by example at the top of the order with the intent he displays.

"The greatest compliment I can pay him is that he's the player our younger lads want to be around and bat with, because of what he's achieved in the game and what they can learn from him."

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