Hales: SA games vital for World T20 prep

England opener Alex Hales hopes his form from the ODI series against South Africa carries into the T20 matches this weekend, and that England can use the games to prepare well for the World Twenty20.

England and the Proteas will play two T20 games, on Friday and Sunday, after the Proteas came from two nil behind to win the ODI series three-two. Hales was the leading run scorer in the series, passing a half ton at least in each match.

With the ICC event in India in March on the horizon, Hales hopes his side's T20 form in recent months carries on, and that they can take a winning effort with them to the sub-continent.

Hales said on the ECB website: "The last couple of years we've played some really good Twenty20 cricket.

"We have got some momentum heading into these games, but these guys are a very good Twenty20 side so it's important for us we do find some form heading into that big tournament."

Hales started the tour to South Africa poorly, not really making an impact in the Test series, his first in the format, but was pleased with the way the ODIs went for him. He felt he, and the team, could win the World T20 title, like they did in 2010.

He continued: "I was obviously very disappointed with how the Tests went. But it was my first crack at it, and I feel I learned a lot from it.

"It was good to find some form with the white ball, and I feel in good touch going into these Twenty20s. We've got a big couple of months now, with the Twenty20 World Cup.

"It's definitely the best side I've been involved with in Twenty20, with a hell of lot of young ball-strikers and a good bowling attack as well.

"I think it's a really exciting time – with the talent and firepower we have in our squad, people who can hit sixes all the way down to number 11. I think we've got a good chance."

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