Alex Hales weighs up Bangladesh options

Opening batsman accepts he could be risking his place if he pulls out of the forthcoming tour

NOTTINGHAM: Opening batsman 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 an attack on a Dhaka cafe last month saw 20 -- mostly foreign -- hostages killed, with the Islamic State group claiming responsibility.

However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said last week that the tour, which includes three ODIs and two Tests 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. Nevertheless, no England player has yet publicly confirmed their willingness to tour Bangladesh.



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

Hales returned to form with an England ODI record 171 as the hosts 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’ grip on a Test spot is far less certain after a run of low scores.

“If you choose not to go to Bangladesh you’re risking your spot, particularly me,” said Hales. “I'm still uncertain as to what to do. It’s going to be a 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, at this stage, to the Bangladesh tour despite the assurances of Australian security expert Dickason.

“It’s a tricky one,” said Woakes. “We are having all the discussions with Reg, the security people, and ECB director 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.”



Following their extraordinary batting display at Trent Bridge, England won by 169 runs and pacer Woakes admitted to mixed feelings as he watched Hales, ably supported by Joe Root, Buttler and Morgan play a “special” innings in Nottingham.

“It gets to the stage in the dressing room where all the batsmen are cheering it and the bowlers are like ‘oh god’ because you know the opposition batsmen will have to come out hard at you,” he said. “But at the same time it’s an opportunity to take wickets and that’s exactly how it worked.”

The ODI series continues in Leeds on Thursday.