Cricket

Hales uncertain about touring

Alex Hales plays a shot during the third one-day international (ODI) cricket match between England and Pakistan. Photo: AFP

Opener Alex Hales has accepted he could be risking his England place if he pulls out of the forthcoming tour of Bangladesh.

The future of the tour was called into question after a terror attack on a Dhaka cafe last month. However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said last week that the tour, which includes three one-day-international and two Test matches in October and November, would go ahead as planned.

The confirmation followed a visit to Bangladesh by an ECB delegation, led by their long-serving security chief Reg Dickason.

Although no England player has yet publicly confirmed their willingness to tour Bangladesh, the British media earlier reported that England Test captain Alastair Cook confirmed his participation for the tour in October. 

Meanwhile several British media reports have suggested that England limited overs captain Eoin Morgan is among those with security concerns.

Nottinghamshire opener Hales returned to form with an England ODI record 171 as England went an unbeatable 3-0 up in their five-match series against Pakistan at his Trent Bridge home ground on Tuesday.

But while his place in the one-day side appears secure, Hales's grip on a Test spot is far less certain.

"If you choose not to go to Bangladesh you're risking your spot, particularly me," said Hales after a century that was the centrepiece of a new ODI world record total of 444 for three. "I'm still uncertain as to what to do. It's going to be some tough decision to make in the next week or so."

Meanwhile Chris Woakes has joined the likes of Hales, Jos Buttler and Liam Plunkett in refusing to commit himself to the Bangladesh tour despite the assurances,

"It's a tricky one," he said. "We are having all the discussions with Reg, the security people, Straussy (ECB director and former England captain Andrew Strauss).

"I'm sure by the end of the series everyone will have to have made their minds up -- and I'm in exactly the same boat."

Warwickshire all-rounder Woakes added: "You have to respect the security level that Reg has reported back on.

"It's a tricky subject. People are going there to play cricket, and they want to make sure they feel 100 per cent.

"I suppose a lot of people won't know they are 100 per cent safe until they get there. But that's up to the individual."

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Hales uncertain about touring

Alex Hales plays a shot during the third one-day international (ODI) cricket match between England and Pakistan. Photo: AFP

Opener Alex Hales has accepted he could be risking his England place if he pulls out of the forthcoming tour of Bangladesh.

The future of the tour was called into question after a terror attack on a Dhaka cafe last month. However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said last week that the tour, which includes three one-day-international and two Test matches in October and November, would go ahead as planned.

The confirmation followed a visit to Bangladesh by an ECB delegation, led by their long-serving security chief Reg Dickason.

Although no England player has yet publicly confirmed their willingness to tour Bangladesh, the British media earlier reported that England Test captain Alastair Cook confirmed his participation for the tour in October. 

Meanwhile several British media reports have suggested that England limited overs captain Eoin Morgan is among those with security concerns.

Nottinghamshire opener Hales returned to form with an England ODI record 171 as England went an unbeatable 3-0 up in their five-match series against Pakistan at his Trent Bridge home ground on Tuesday.

But while his place in the one-day side appears secure, Hales's grip on a Test spot is far less certain.

"If you choose not to go to Bangladesh you're risking your spot, particularly me," said Hales after a century that was the centrepiece of a new ODI world record total of 444 for three. "I'm still uncertain as to what to do. It's going to be some tough decision to make in the next week or so."

Meanwhile Chris Woakes has joined the likes of Hales, Jos Buttler and Liam Plunkett in refusing to commit himself to the Bangladesh tour despite the assurances,

"It's a tricky one," he said. "We are having all the discussions with Reg, the security people, Straussy (ECB director and former England captain Andrew Strauss).

"I'm sure by the end of the series everyone will have to have made their minds up -- and I'm in exactly the same boat."

Warwickshire all-rounder Woakes added: "You have to respect the security level that Reg has reported back on.

"It's a tricky subject. People are going there to play cricket, and they want to make sure they feel 100 per cent.

"I suppose a lot of people won't know they are 100 per cent safe until they get there. But that's up to the individual."

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