This week saw 514 players entered into the auction for this year’s Indian Premier League. In an event that saw a few attract astronomical sums of money, some 350 were overlooked.

Nottinghamshire batsman Alex Hales was one of those not selected in the auction, but he was quick to look past the initial disappointment and seek success with Nottinghamshire and England.

“Historically, English players haven’t fared too well in those conditions and it would have been a good test of character to have been out there and challenge myself,” said Hales.

“Any chance an English player has to be involved in cricket on the subcontinent will improve them.

“We play on bouncy wickets in England so when you can test yourself on unfamiliar conditions it can really benefit you.”

Despite not being picked up in this week’s auction, Hales has a busy programme of events ahead of him – trips to the Caribbean and Bangladesh to represent England ahead of the start of the domestic season with Nottinghamshire.

“Its not the end of the world,” he said. 

“I have a good opportunity coming up in the Caribbean with the ODI side, hopefully I’ll get the chance to open the batting and show what I can do over fifty overs and there’s a big world cup coming up. 

“My focus is on that at the moment, and then the start of Notts’ season in April. We have a pretty strong squad in all three forms of the competition, and hopefully we can challenge.”

Hales has returned to Nottingham following an extended stay in Australia through the British winter, representing the Adelaide Striker in this year’s KFC Big Bash League and later England in their three-match Twenty 20 series against Australia.

“Personally I didn’t do as well as I wanted to,” he said.

“I went out there with high expectations and a degree of hype, and I really wanted to fare better than I did. 

“The whole of English cricket has learnt a lot from that tour of Australia, and I think we’ve become better people and players because of it.

“It’s the first lean patch in T20 I’ve ever had. People are always in and out of form, and it’s more about how you bounce back from it.”