No loan signing as Hales stays put
Northamptonshire’s hopes of boosting their side with a loan batsman ahead of this weekend’s LV= County Championship outing have been dashed.
Discussion had taken place between the County and Nottinghamshire with a view to bringing in England international Alex Hales on a short-term deal but that was dependent on an injury situation clearing up at Trent Bridge.
However, all the pieces haven’t fallen into place and Hales will be staying put which will be a blow to a County side who are in need of reinforcement.
Hales played in Nottinghamshire’s Championship opener against Lancashire but was left out of their side for the clash with Middlesex once James Taylor was fit to return.
His employers are keen for him to play four-day cricket when he isn’t in their side and the County are in the position to offer such a deal, albeit for a very short period of time with their next two games being against Durham University and Nottinghamshire, against whom Hales would not have been able to play.
Speaking about the situation, captain Stephen Peters said: “We were trying to get a high profile, international batsman in which would’ve been a big boost to us.
“But his club, with a few injury problems, wanted to keep him so unfortunately that won’t be happening and we’ll be picking from the same personnel against Lancashire.”