England’s T20 star Hales eyeing ODI opportunity

London: England’s new limited over star Alex Hales is hoping to impress selectors with a strong performance in the final Twenty20 match against India on Saturday in order to get into the one-day international squad.

Hales`` 26-ball half-century, in a losing cause against India in last night`s first of two Twenty20 Internationals, was a timely contribution before Sunday`s announcement of two limited-overs squads for the tour of New Zealand in February. But the 23-year-old has ambitions in all formats and his next stepping stone would be to sneak into the one-day international reckoning. To that end, Hales is intent on taking all opportunities which come his way and seeking others out too, having just signed up for a stint in the Bangladesh Premier League early next year. “There`s an up-and-coming Lions tour I`m hoping to be part of, and the Twenty20 in New Zealand. All I can do is keep doing as well as I can and try to impress the selectors ... perform to the best of my ability whenever I get a chance,” the Daily Mirror quoted Hales, as saying. “If I can get on the Lions tour and do well, then I hope I can put myself in the frame for it [the one-day international squad],” he added. “I was happy with how it went. My previous record against India - the last few games we`ve played - hasn`t been very good at all. So I was happy I managed to go out there and showed them that I can play,” he said. ANI