Alex Hales out of India ODI series

The England batsman “will be out for three to four weeks” due to a torn left side strain.

Alex Hales suffered the injury at practice ahead of the first ODI.

England batsman Alex Hales will miss the entire One-Day International (ODI) series with India, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Thursday.

Prior to Thursday’s first ODI at Trent Bridge, home ground of Hales’ county team Nottinghamshire, the ECB said the opening batsman had been left out of that match because of a side injury suffered when batting during net practice on Wednesday. But, at that stage, it said Hales, now something of a white-ball specialist, would be “monitored” on a game by game basis.

However, after India’s thumping eight-wicket win that put the tourist 1-0 up in a three-match series, a team spokesman confirmed the 29-year-old Hales would miss Saturday’s match at Lord’s and Tuesday’s finale at Headingley.

‘Out for three to four weeks’

“Alex Hales has a torn left side strain, he will be out for three to four weeks and misses the rest of the series,” said the spokesman.

England has retained Dawid Malan, who did not play at Trent Bridge after being called up as cover for Hales, for the second ODI at the Middlesex batsman's Lord's home ground. Hales averaged 48 as England lost its Twenty20 series against India 2-1.

England’s previous ODI at Trent Bridge saw Hales make 147 as England compiled a men’s record total of 481 for six in a 242-run win against Australia on June 19.