England batsman has agreed to a new deal with his county to play only limited-overs matches by the end of 2019 season. His England teammate, Adil Rashid had also announced to play only white-ball cricket for Yorkshire in 2018.

“The decision to focus on my white-ball game wasn’t taken lightly or on the spur of the moment,” wrote Hales on his Twitter account. “It’s one I’ve thought long and hard about. It’s also one I’ve discussed at length with the Notts management. I’d like to thank them for their continued support.”

Hales has signed a new deal at Nottinghamshire to play for their 50-over and T20 teams.

“We had a feeling this was coming,” Mick Newell, Nottinghamshire’s director of cricket and an England selector, said. “He wants to play the formats he prefers; where he sees his international career progressing.

“He came to us – we didn’t suggest it – but we respect his decision. It’s his right to choose and we felt if he wants to play just one-day and Twenty20 cricket, then we still wanted it to be with us.”

Hales was part of the Nottinghamshire side that dominated domestic limited-overs cricket in 2017, winning both the T20 Blast and the One-Day Cup, with the latter inspired by a 187-run knock from the opener.

According to The Guardian, “With the security of an England white-ball contract, under the new system introduced 18 months ago, Hales can instead take a county pay cut and use the early season as downtime – unless a late IPL opportunity presents itself.”

Eoin Morgan, England’s one-day captain, has not played first-class cricket since 2015. Being unsold at IPL auction has stated his intention to start the season with Middlesex.