Ben Stokes and Alex Hales shared a brief partnership in the first T20I against Australia, with the pair batting together for the first time since Hales was recalled by England.
The opener spent almost three years in the international wilderness since being dropped on the eve of England's 2019 Cricket World Cup win after failing a second recreational drugs test. And Stokes and Hales had a high-profile falling out following the 2017 Bristol incident which saw Stokes arrested and charged with affray.
Following a comprehensive win in an ODI against the West Indies, Stokes and Hales were involved in a brawl which ended with Stokes going to trial and getting acquitted. Having been arrested by police, Stokes woke up the next day in a police cell while Hales left to play golf without telling anyone what had happened.
In his recent Amazon Prime documentary, Stokes pointedly referred to Hales as his "friend at the time". And when asked about his recall to the side for the T20 World Cup as an injury replacement for Jonny Bairstow, Stokes said: "I think at the end of the day, everyone's goal is to win that World Cup for England.
"My goal, Alex's goal and everyone else who's part of that squad's goal is to win that World Cup. And it's an injury that presents an opportunity to someone else.
"Alex is definitely one of the best T20 players in the world. And unfortunately with what happened with Jonny we had to call another player up and know Alex is definitely one of the guys that bowlers just don't want to be bowling at in the T20 format.
"I've not been in the leadership capacity with the white ball group for however long. I've obviously been resting and stuff like that. But when it comes down to the big moments in games and World Cup games, knockout games, you want your best players there to be taking that pressure on and he certainly is one of those."
And England white ball coach Matthew Mott has insisted the pair do not need to be "best mates" to star at the World Cup. "As far as that [Stokes] relationship goes, they might not be best mates and that's OK," he said.
"I'm sure you work with colleagues all the time who aren't your best mate but you can work with them if you've got a common goal. Ben's come out and stated that as well.
"He wants to win World Cups. I'm sure Alex does as well and we all do, so we try and pick the best players and if they end up becoming good mates again that's great; if not, as long as they're going towards that goal of winning the World Cup together then that's how teams function."
In their first partnership in more than three years, Hales and Stokes added 33 runs for the second wicket. Stokes, playing his first T20I since March 2021, scored just nine after being promoted to number three.
Hales, however, top scored for England with a scintillating 84 off 51 balls as they posted an imposing total of 208-6. He shared a stunning 132-run partnership with captain Jos Buttler, seemingly nailing down his spot in the World Cup side ahead of fellow opener Phil Salt.
