Cape Town - New England head coach Chris Silverwood has given hope to batsman Alex Hales of a return to the national team set-up.
Hales was dropped from the World Cup squad following his suspension for failing a recreational drugs test and has subsequently lost his central contract.
It was the second drugs test failed by the Nottinghamshire opener and he was also involved in the incident that led to Ben Stokes missing the last Ashes tour to Australia.
The controversial Hales was unsurprisingly left out of the five-match T20 series against New Zealand that starts next month.
The tour will mark the start of Silverwood's tenure as England's head coach after he was appointed as Trevor Bayliss successor this week.
When asked about the situation regarding Hales, Silverwood said: "I believe in never say never but equally he's got to prove that firstly he's getting the runs.
"Time is a great healer, so it'll be a case of watch this space, really."
England will also play two Tests following the T20Is in new Zealand.
- TeamTalk