England limited-overs captain, Eoin Morgan said that top-order batsman Alex Hales will not be able to find a place in the squad as they have “very strong at the moment”. Hales has been excluded from England’s (eventual winners) 50-over World Cup squad for failing a second test for use of recreational drugs. He last played for England in March 2019 prior to the World Cup.

Talking about Hales as per the quotes in ESPNCriinfo, Eoin Morgan said, “Our position on Alex still remains the same. The squad is very strong at the moment. You look at the strength of our squad at the moment and the areas that we’re trying to improve… one area we don’t struggle for players, it’s probably in the top three. He’s not in the squad and the squad is very difficult to get back into. Could he return ahead of the World Cup? Only time will tell. But time is a great healer.”

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Hales recently had a phenomenal outing in the BBL 2020-21 and continues to hold the record for the highest T20I score by an England player – 116 not out against Sri Lanka in the 2014 World T20. In February, the England cricket team’s national selector Ed Smith hinted that Hales can be expected to make comeback to the squad ahead of the summer later this year.

When asked directly about Hales, Smith had said, “We’re always looking at ways to consider getting players who aren’t currently in the active squad to come along to training days, perhaps in the run-up to a series. It’s an opportunity to keep growing and expanding that group of players, and keep building those relationships with players who are just outside the actual squad, but that we know are good cricketers. It”s something we might consider in the English summer.”

Morgan also cleared the air regarding where all-rounder Ben Stokes will bat in the upcoming five-match series against India after his IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals used the English batter as an opener.

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Describing the same, Morgan said, “I”m happy with the structure I have. Ben has done really well for us there (in the middle order) and hopefully, that will continue.” The first T20I of the five-match series will be played at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday.