Alex Hales says England are ready to face a trial by spin when their ICC World Twenty20 campaign begins in India next week.
Both the 2012 and 2014 tournaments were held on the subcontinent, in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and on both occasions England’s problems against the turning ball contributed to their early exit.
But Nottinghamshire opener Hales, who hit a century in Chittagong against a Sri Lanka attack comprising three slow bowlers in the 2014 staging, believes progress has been made.
Hales, who has played in the last two World T20s, suddenly finds himself as one of the more experienced squad members who have travelled to Mumbai, but insists it will be skipper Eoin Morgan and Joe Root who will lead from the front.
“I think if you look down our order there are good players of spin,” said the 27-year-old.
“Joe Root is one of the best players in the world against spin, and Eoin Morgan is another great player of spin.
“Everyone has to have their own different methods: some guys like to move their feet and some guys are sweeping, but we’re all confident in our own methods and we have to take that into the games.
“This is my third World Cup now in the subcontinent so I’m familiar with the conditions.
“A few of the guys aren’t, so I’ll pass on whatever I can to guys who haven’t played out here.”
England will take on South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka and a first-round qualifier – either Afghanistan or Zimbabwe – in the Super 10 stage of the competition, and Hales insists the squad harbour lofty ambitions of going all the way.
“We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t think we could win it,” he said.
“If you look at the 15 guys here every single guy on the list can be a match-winner.
“If a few of the guys can find form at the right time I don’t see why not.”
Source: ECB