Alex Hales is all set for a third season in the Abu Dhabi T10, representing local side Team Abu Dhabi, and the English opener feels that playing in the tournament has made him into a better player overall.
“I loved the two seasons I’ve played here before (for Team Abu Dhabi),” said Hales in a press meet ahead of the sixth edition of Abu Dhabi T10. “It is such a good tournament, a real attraction for some of the best players in the world.”
Alex Hales will be turning up for ADT10 Season 6 after a T20 World Cup triumph with England. The Englishman made 212 runs in six matches, including a terrific 47-ball 86 in the semi-finals against India, at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, where he scored at an average of 42.40.
The 33-year-old has also had a successful year in T20Is overall, scoring 430 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate above 145.
Alex Hales attributed his recent success in T20s to his time at the Abu Dhabi T10.
“I always feel like I leave the tournament a better player every time, especially when it comes to T20 again. You go out there and tee-up from ball one in T10, you leave that progress in your T20 game,” Hales noted.
“T10 suits my game even more. I always look to take advantage of the powerplay and get going from ball one. It’s a format that comes naturally to me.”
Known for his big hitting, Alex Hales also went on to reiterate the importance of hitting boundaries to be successful in the shorter formats of the game.
“In T20 cricket, more often than not the team that hits most boundaries wins the game. It is more so in T10. I’m not too fussed about dot balls. I know I can catch up with a boundary. I tend to think about boundaries more than dot balls for sure,” the English batter explained.
The Abu Dhabi T10 2022 begins on November 23 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium and Hales will be in action for Team Abu Dhabi on the opening day.
