ICC T20 WORLD CUP 2022

November 4, 2022

Alex Hales

Sydney Cricket Ground

England

Pre Match Media Conference

Q. Can I just ask what the mood in the camp is? Obviously going into tomorrow we don't know what you're going to face yet, but by tomorrow you'll probably know what you're going to need to do. How is the mood?

ALEX HALES: Yeah, it's been pretty good. Obviously a great win against New Zealand, a really tight game and a tight contest. Hopefully should set us up well for the rest of the tournament. Yeah, we enjoyed a nice day off yesterday and going to hit training hard today, and everyone is feeling confident and looking forward to tomorrow.

Q. Can I ask about the pitches, as well; have they been what you're used to facing in Australia?

ALEX HALES: No, it's actually been a little bit different. I think the numbers at the top of the order throughout the tournament have been probably lower than what you usually expect. They've slightly been different to what I've been used to. There's been a fair bit of swing, a bit of seaming bounce, so it's been very difficult. Had to hang in there at times and piece together a contribution the other night, but the weather looks a bit better going forward, so hopefully the pitches will get better, as well.

Q. You've been back in the England side for a few weeks now. I think every time you've made a contribution, scored 50 or more, they've gone on to win. Just how well do you think you've fitted back in and how well you think it's been going?

ALEX HALES: Yeah, it's been sort of on and off for me personally. There's been a few low scores in there as well as some high ones.

Hopefully I can find a bit more consistency going forward. I think that's something I've done well over the last few years is few single-figure scores and more contributions. I felt in good touch the other night, so hopefully I can keep that going through the rest of the tournament.

Q. Are you guys paying much attention to net run rate?

ALEX HALES: It's always a big thing, isn't it, but I think ours are looking pretty good. I'm not sure exactly what it is; I think Aus have to win by 60 runs and we have to have a tight game or something like that. That's what the guys have been saying around the camp.

I think we're just going to focus on us. As long as we put in a good performance, we all play well, then it should take care of itself.

Q. We don't know what's going to happen yet, but if Australia were to win quite handsomely tonight and the scenario was you need to maybe get to a target a bit quicker than normal, is that something you think this team is comfortable with, and would you be comfortable setting that tone at the top of the order, kind of teeing off if you really had to?

ALEX HALES: Yeah, for sure. I think it all comes naturally for us, especially with the layout of our squad playing an extra batter. You've got middle order is so strong, guys who can strike quite easily a 200 strike rate. I think it's a very confident batting unit, and think we'll be able to adapt to whatever tomorrow needs.

Q. It almost kind of plays to your strengths, doesn't it, having to be uber aggressive?

ALEX HALES: I think so, yeah. It certainly plays to my strengths. I think it plays to a lot of -- almost every batter's strength in the side is to go out and play their shots and be aggressive, and I think why we play with a very successful batting lineup.

Q. Can you just tell us about your emotions about playing Sri Lanka in this tournament? I remember a certain game in 2014 in Bangladesh where did you quite well.

ALEX HALES: Yeah, good memories, yeah. That was a tough side. They're always a very tricky side, and they've got some handy operators. We're going to have to play our best cricket to win, but like I said, we're pretty confident, and the mood is good in the camp. I feel like we can deal with anything that's ahead of us.

Q. Have you looked ahead after the tournament to the 2023 World Cup? Different format, of course, but a year away. Presumably you'd like to be there, and have you had that conversation at all?

ALEX HALES: To be honest with you, I haven't had that conversation. I haven't really sort of looked that far ahead. I just wanted to enjoy this World Cup in Australia, try and perform as well as I can and see what happens, but I'll be honest with you, I haven't had that conversation yet, but we'll see what happens in the future.

Q. You'd like to, though, true?

ALEX HALES: Is it 50-over World Cup? I haven't played a 50-over game in maybe three years, so probably need to try and find a way to play that format before, but if that chance comes along, then great.

Q. On that, it can be quite difficult, I guess, as someone who's playing T20 nearly all the time to recover form if you're out of form. I don't particularly remember a spell when you've been out of form, but is that something you've struggled with, and what can you do? In general, what should players do who maybe could do with a bit of a bat?

ALEX HALES: I've been lucky throughout my career just playing T20 cricket, I've never been one for huge amounts of volume when it comes to hitting balls, so I think when -- T20 you can find yourself short of time in the middle if you're out of touch, but throughout my career, I've never been one to have to hit thousands of balls to feel good, so I feel like it's kind of suited me in a way.

But yeah, I guess I'm lucky in the last few years; I've felt in good touch most of the time. I think opening occasionally in T20 you're going to go through little blips, but it can take one thing to click, and you can feel on top of the world again.

It's just about understanding what you need to find that form again.

Q. How much of an advantage do you think it is playing 24 hours after Australia and you know exactly what your situation will be in terms of keeping Sri Lanka to a total within X amount of overs?

ALEX HALES: Yeah I think it does play to our advantage. See what happens today, and then we can adapt to whatever tomorrow requires. I guess we're pretty confident with whatever we need to do, we've got the skills and firepower to do it.

Q. The pitch you're playing, I think it's the daytime when this pitch has been used. Does this change things potentially? Obviously usually if you're chasing net run rate, teams will want to chase and know how quick they've got to get the runs, but does the fact that you'll be on an old wicket, does that maybe change plans around it?

ALEX HALES: Maybe. You'll probably have to ask the think tank, Jos and Mottsy probably know the answers to that, but more often than not it's a decent pitch here. It can dry up and spin, but we'll have to have a look at it. I haven't seen the pitch yet, so we'll have a look over the next 24 hours.

Q. Can I just ask about Sam Curran and how impressive he's been over this whole stay in Australia really as someone who's come back into the team? How good is Sam and how much development have you seen in him as a bowler, particularly at the death?

ALEX HALES: Yeah, brilliant. He's a proper three-dimensional cricketer, excellent in the field, can give it a whack with the bat, and I think his death numbers over the last couple years have improved dramatically. For such a young man to be firing that consistently on the world stage is brilliant to see, and he's only going to keep getting better and better over the next few years, so he's a massive asset to England.

Q. You spoke about the pitches being slightly different; have you guys had a chat about maybe playing slightly more conservative than how you guys play? Have you had a chat about that, or is it just stick to the original game plan?

ALEX HALES: I think the biggest thing is to be adaptable. I think it's probably not what we expected here, but I guess it being spring and all the rain has been around, there was always going to be a bit more swing and seam. It's just about being able to adapt to what each game requires and thinking quickly on your feet. I guess that's the job as the openers, to assess as quickly as possible what's going to be a good score and try and adapt as quickly as you can.

Q. What would it be like to qualify for semifinals, to get to the stage of knockout cricket in this competition with all the background of the success that this white ball team has had over a number of years?

ALEX HALES: Yeah, it would be pretty special. Certainly on a personal level, to have a chance to play knockout cricket in a World Cup would be a very special feeling. I think as a group it will be, too. It's a pretty tight competition, and to get through is difficult; only 2 out of 16 go through. So you have to beat some very good teams along the way. It would be a good achievement if we can get through, in a pretty tough group in my opinion.

We'll have to play some good cricket, and one more game and we'll be at that stage.

Q. Has this experience coming back lived up to all your kind of hopes and dreams that you thought it would be?

ALEX HALES: Yeah, it's been brilliant. It's been so much fun. Great to be back around the guys, and it's been really smooth and enjoyable, and to get a chance to play the World Cup in a country that I've spent a lot of time means a lot to me. It's a great feeling, and it would be the cherry on top if we could walk away with a medal.