England batsman Alex Hales is looking forward to working with head coach Gary Kirsten during the Durban Heat’s 2019 Mzansi Super League campaign.

Hales has joined the franchise as an international marquee player, while Kirsten has committed before joining the Welsh Fire for The Hundred – the England and Wales Cricket Board’s new limited-overs tournament – next year.

‘This will be the first time that I have worked with Gary, but I have heard really good things from everyone that has played under him,’ said Hales.

‘He has a great reputation around the world and hopefully I can form a good bond with him.

‘We have a great bunch of guys and we have a fantastic coach in Gary, so it is going to be an exciting five weeks.’

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The hard-hitting Wales was a key member of Nottinghamshire’s T20 Blast campaign and played for the Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League earlier this year.

‘I have had a good couple weeks off after a really enjoyable four months, so I am feeling refreshed and looking forward to what the next five weeks have to offer,’ he added.

‘Playing T20 cricket in South Africa is something that I have always wanted to do, so when I was offered the role here it was no-brainer for me.’

The Heat will play the Tshwane Spartans at Kingsmead in Durban on Saturday.

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