It’s been as good as gold: Alex Hales on his interactions with Ben Stokes

Alex Hales and Ben Stokes (PC: Twitter)

England opener Alex Hales commented on his relationship with all-rounder Ben Stokes, stating that there is no need for the duo to 'clear the air' as their aim remains the same: winning the T20 World Cup.

Hales returned to the English T20 team during the tour of Pakistan last month, ending three years of wilderness after he was tested positive for a banned drug and subsequently banished from the national set-up ahead of the 2019 World Cup.

Speaking on his relationship with Ben Stokes, the swashbuckling opener said that there is no animosity between them as he described his chat with the English Test captain 'as good as gold'.

Here's what Alex Hales said:

"We’ve sat down and had a chat. It’s been as good as gold. At the end of the day, we’re here to win a World Cup. I think that’s the most important thing," 

“We’ve had a really good chat and things have been fine. There’s been no air clearing at all, we just sat down with Jos and said our goal is to win the World Cup. It’s been really good – really smooth.”

Alex Hales and Ben Stokes were involved in a bar scuffle in Bristol in 2017

Hales and Stokes have endured their fair share of ups and downs in their relationship. Their relationship soured after the 2017 Bristol Bar incident, where Stokes was charged with affray and later acquitted.

In his recently released documentary: Phoenix from the Ashes- Stokes, while recounting the incident addressed Hales as "my friend at the time, Alex".

On Sunday, the duo batted together for the first time in nearly 3 years during the 1st T20I against Australia in Perth.

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