Jonny Bairstow's replacement had "shown complete disregard" for team values back in 2019 but has seemingly won back the trust of the team, leading to his return for the Pakistan tour and the T20 World Cup in Australia
Alex Hales returns to the England squad with the full backing of all players, insists white-ball captain Jos Buttler.
Three-and-a-half years on from his last international appearance, the 33-year-old is back in the fold for the Pakistan series and T20 World Cup as an injury replacement for Jonny Bairstow, who was ruled out after a 'freak golf injury'.
Hales was axed from England's 2019 World Cup squad over failing two drugs tests which then-skipper Eoin Morgan believed had "shown a complete disregard" for team values.
Senior players met and agreed that the Nottinghamshire batter should be de-selected from the group, a process Morgan was "delighted" with. Buttler is among the six survivors from that squad three years ago which now heads to Australia following the white-ball leg of the first tour to Pakistan in 17 years. Liam Dawson and James Vince, part of the reserve list, make it eight.
But approving his return from international exile, Buttler mirrored the approach of his predecessor and consulted the squad and received a unanimous response.
"I spoke to lots of the senior players to make sure that no one would have any issues with Alex being back in the team if we wanted to select him," Buttler said, upon the squad arriving in Karachi. "No one had any issues.
"He's obviously been in excellent form. We know what a talented player he is and he's gained a lot of experience as well since the last time he played for England.
Hales was a central part of England's white-ball revolution (LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)
He added: "I think that was important. It's no secret that when Alex got left out of the 2019 World Cup squad, Eoin did a similar kind of thing.
"He spoke to many of the senior players, all of the coaching staff and as a team, I think it's important that you give ownership to other guys and gather opinions.
"I just wanted to double-check. I had my own view, but I wanted to just make sure that everyone was on the same page.
"Everyone was, so that's great. I'm just looking forward to having him back in and around the group. It won't be long until Moeen Ali is taking the mick out of him again and all will be well."
Only Mohammad Rizwan has more T20 runs this century than Hales, who has scored 3,648, averaging 33.77 at a strike of 158.26. He currently leads the way in 2022, with 1,271 runs and was part of the Trent Rockets side that won the men's Hundred title.
It is in Pakistan and Australia where some of Hales' most impressive franchise performances have come in recent years. In 28 PSL matches, he's crushed 895 runs while he is the Big Bash League's highest overseas scorer, with 1,857 runs in 60 innings.
Buttler was speaking after England touched down in Karachi (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
"He's played for a lot of franchises and had great success out here at the PSL," added Buttler.
"Looking ahead to the World Cup, his Big Bash record is fantastic. Australia is a place that he's done well, and so he seemed the obvious pick."
Buttler will miss the start of the Pakistan series - Moeen Ali is set to deputise as skipper - with a calf injury which ruled him out of the sharp end of the men's Hundred.
"[I will] take it as I see it and very slowly build it up," said Buttler on his return. "It's an injury that's not bad, but one that has a risk of recurrence.
"You don't want to push it too soon, especially with what we have ahead: we still have games in Australia and warm-up games so there's no desperate need to get as fit as possible.
"If I was available for the last couple, that would be the best-case scenario at the minute. It might come earlier than that; it might not at all. The picture will become clearer in a week or so. I'm looking forward to getting stuck in."
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.