Hales fears England axe unless he starts producing runs

It was at Trent Bridge, venue for Tuesday’s third one-day international as England seek an unassailable series lead over Australia, that Hales hit a then national-record 171 in an all-time high total of 444-3 against Pakistan in 2016.

Thanks to a vexed sequence of events – starting with his suspension last September following a night out in Bristol that left team-mate Ben Stokes facing a charge of affray – Hales has lost his opener’s slot.

Instead, he follows Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy – the new holder of England’s highest ODI score after making 180 in Melbourne in January – and acknowledges that when Stokes recovers fitness, his claims to any place in the order will be tenuous.

Asked if he may be dropped, Hales said: “That’ll probably happen, with my batting at three.

“That’s what happened when we went from Australia into the New Zealand series (last winter).

“It can change quickly. It’s up to me to use these three games well and try and score as many runs as possible ... [keep] putting pressure on those two.”

Hales accepts there is extra pressure on him, adding: “Obviously. I’ve got to try and get my place back.

“Those two have come in and done really well since the West Indies series.

“Jonny’s been knocking the door down for a few years now, and every time he got a chance, he took it.

“I guess now I’m in that position, where I’m on the fringe and any chance I can get, it’s up to me to convert big runs.”

Hales caused a stir with his winter decision to forsake first-class cricket in favour of white-ball only to try to fine-tune his preparations for next year’s World Cup.

Since then, he has made two ODI half-centuries – and for England, Nottinghamshire and Sunrisers Hyderabad, passed 50 just once in his last 10 innings.

He concedes it has yet to be proven whether he has made the right call in becoming a temporary specialist. “It’s a bit of a grey area as to whether I’ll get enough volume (of cricket),” he said. “There’s pros and cons.”

In the immediate term, he could do with revisiting those Trent Bridge deeds of 2016.

“I feel confident heading into the game tomorrow,” he said, ruing nonetheless his failure to add to his 52 in England’s shock defeat to Scotland after contributing just five and 26 in the opening two ODI wins over Australia.

Eoin Morgan, fit again after a back spasm, returns with Sam Billings the obvious candidate to make way in the middle order.