National selector Ed Smith backs England’s stance on Alex Hales

National selector Ed Smith has backed England’s stance on Alex Hales after he was left out of a new-look 24-man training squad prior to three one-day internationals against Ireland.

Captain Eoin Morgan is yet to forgive Hales for almost derailing England’s World Cup campaign after he was banned for failing two drugs tests.

Smith said: ‘I have nothing to add to what Eoin Morgan said about Alex. We know how good a player he is. We know where he stands. That’s the situation. We know what happened. Eoin’s been very clear about his comments. We support that.’

National selector Ed Smith decided against including Alex Hales in England’s training squad

Smith says that he fully supports England’s stance on Hales following Eoin Morgan’s comments

The England squad, which will go into a biosecure training camp at the Ageas Bowl next Thursday before the first game against Ireland on July 30, includes seven players without international experience: seamers Henry Brookes, Brydon Carse, Tom Helm and Richard Gleeson, plus batsmen Laurie Evans, Sam Hain and Phil Salt.

There is also room for left-arm seamer Reece Topley, who hasn’t played for England since the 2016 World T20 in India after four stress fractures, and David Willey, who was replaced late on in last year’s World Cup squad by Jofra Archer.

The team will be coached by Paul Collingwood, as revealed by Sportsmail last year, and does not include any members of the current Test bubble.

Captain Eoin Morgan has yet to forgive Hales for almost derailing England’s World Cup campaign after he was banned for failing two drugs tests