Alex Hales, Nottinghamshire’s match-winner in the 2017 Royal London One-Day Cup Final, is expecting to feature heavily during the 2019 tournament.
The 30-year-old ranks his match-winning innings of 187 against Surrey at Lord’s in 2017 as his best in an Outlaws shirt.
Two years on, he’s hoping to play a leading role in firing Notts back to the showpiece final – and to being around for the entirety of the T20 Vitality Blast.
“That final was just one of the best days of my cricketing career,” he said.
“We had our backs against the wall throughout a lot of that game, so to put on my highest List A score - and to beat Surrey on such a big occasion for Notts - was memorable.
“I can’t wait (to play 50-over for the Outlaws),” Hales continued.
“The games start a bit earlier which means I am available for five or six of them, so that will be brilliant. I am really looking forward to it.
“The last couple of years it has been limited how much I have played for Notts, so I think I can play a little bit of the one-day competition and then the T20 Blast, which is brilliant.
“Home support makes a huge difference at Notts. We’re so blessed with the incredible support at Trent Bridge - every T20 game we’re attracting 10,000, if not more.
“Last season we probably didn’t play as well as we wanted to at home, but in the ten years I have been at the Club it’s been an absolute fortress, so hopefully we can put that right this year.”
Sandwiched between his two periods of domestic duty is the small matter of a home ICC Cricket World Cup – one England are set to enter as favourites.
“It’s going to be an amazing experience,” he said. “Ever since the last World Cup in 2015, our one-day form has gone from strength-to-strength.
“If someone had said four years ago that we’d be going into the 2019 World Cup as favourites, it would have taken a few by surprise.
“It’s a really good changing room to be part of. Some of the talent around is the best I have been involved with and it is a really healthy environment where guys are pushing each other to excel and get to the next level.
“There is a lot of talent around English cricket waiting to take your place so it’s good, healthy competition.
“I think it will make a huge difference (playing on home soil). We had the Champions Trophy where it didn’t go to plan so we can’t take anything for granted, but obviously it is an advantage.
“It’s great playing in front of the English fans. It’s an amazing opportunity.”
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