Drummer Alex Hales said he had matured during his three-year absence from the England squad, adding he was “really looking forward” to helping his country in their Twenty20 World Cup campaign in Australia.
Hales, 33, was called to the T20 World Cup team this month replacing Jonny Bairstow.
In 2019, Hales was dropped from the preliminary squad for the 50-year-old World Cup after the Guardian newspaper reported he was serving a three-week ban for recreational drug use.
“I think I’ve changed. I’ve definitely matured. I’m comfortably in my thirties now and becoming a veteran,” Hales told reporters ahead of England’s T20 series in Pakistan.
“In the end, it was my fault, wasn’t it? … You have to look in the mirror and try to improve as a person and learn from your mistakes.”
Hales, who played in the T20 Big Bash League in Australia, said he hoped to put his experience to good use at the T20 World Cup.
“I thought the opportunity wouldn’t come again. It was disappointing not to be on the team for three years,” added Hales.
“I felt like I had played the best cricket of my career in those three years too, so to have that chance again is something I’m really proud of and something I’m really looking forward to, especially the World Cup in Australia, somewhere I have a lot of experience.
“I feel like I can help take this team forward.”
England begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Afghanistan on October 22 in Perth.
Hales, 33, was called to the T20 World Cup team this month replacing Jonny Bairstow.
In 2019, Hales was dropped from the preliminary squad for the 50-year-old World Cup after the Guardian newspaper reported he was serving a three-week ban for recreational drug use.
“I think I’ve changed. I’ve definitely matured. I’m comfortably in my thirties now and becoming a veteran,” Hales told reporters ahead of England’s T20 series in Pakistan.
“In the end, it was my fault, wasn’t it? … You have to look in the mirror and try to improve as a person and learn from your mistakes.”
Hales, who played in the T20 Big Bash League in Australia, said he hoped to put his experience to good use at the T20 World Cup.
“I thought the opportunity wouldn’t come again. It was disappointing not to be on the team for three years,” added Hales.
“I felt like I had played the best cricket of my career in those three years too, so to have that chance again is something I’m really proud of and something I’m really looking forward to, especially the World Cup in Australia, somewhere I have a lot of experience.
“I feel like I can help take this team forward.”
England begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Afghanistan on October 22 in Perth.