It Only Works For International Stars

- Charlie Talbot-Smith

But Hales’ director of cricket Mick Newell insists any panicking about the state of the longest form of the game in this country is premature.

It is a strange role reversal though at Trent Bridge, considering the Outlaws prevented Hales from going to the IPL back in 2012 and have now allowed him to sign a white-ball-only contract.

But this is not the start of a sea change in the domestic game according to Newell, even if his bowler Harry Gurney tweeted the exact opposite earlier this week.

“You’ve got to be playing for England in white-ball cricket to make this work, I don’t think your average – for want of a better word – county player will look at this and think they’re going to do that because there won’t be enough money in it for the county player to do it,” he said.

“But if you’re an international player and all these doors are open to you around the world and you’re playing international cricket then financially you’re in a better position and your time is going to be more well used because there’s lots of cricket you can play in.