England batsman Alex Hales refunds fan’s ticket after complaint of slow over-rate on day three at Edgbaston
ENGLAND batsman Alex Hales has refunded a fan part of his ticket cost for day three at Edgbaston after he became frustrated by the hosts' slow over-rate.
The supporter, Alexis Fuller, took to Twitter to have a moan regarding England's inability to get a move on in the field, after only 81 overs of the 90 were bowled on Friday.
Having forked out £41 for the day's event, Fuller tweeted to a host of England stars suggesting a refund would be in order - after only 20 overs were bowled in the afternoon session.
He said: "I want 10 per cent of my money back. Wouldn't go to football and find it ended after 80mins.
"@AlexHales1 @root66 @vincey14 @jbairstow21 @MoeenAli @chriswoakes @StuartBroad8 @finnysteve @jimmy9 care to refund me 10% of ticket price?"
Incredibly, Nottinghamshire opener Hales, 27, replied, saying he would pay the £4.10 disgruntled Fuller was seeking.
He tweeted back, saying: "OK DM me your bank details I'll do it now."
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Fuller later tweeted a screen-grab confirming the England ace had indeed kept his promise, captioning the image: "Can confirm @AlexHales1 has paid this.
"A very kind gesture. Hope he goes big tomorrow!"
The England supporter later revealed he had donated the £4.10 received from the batsman to the Lord's Taverners - a leading youth cricket and disability sports charity.
The hosts were widely criticised by fans and pundits alike on Friday for failing to keep up with the pace, as Alastair Cook's men trudged through the middle session of the day.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan laid into the side, tweeting: "Only 81 overs bowled today.
"Ten per cent down. The game has to do something to stop this. It's madness..."
It was a day full of controversy, as England's leading bowler James Anderson was forced out of the bowling attack for 'running on the wicket'.
The Lancashire man, 34, was warned twice before being dished a third and final strike, despite only an inch of boot encroaching on the danger area of the wicket.
It was a move former England spinner Phil Tufnell branded 'harsh'.
He said: “That is an inch of heel on the bottom corner of the danger area? That’s extraordinary.
“I don’t think he’ll be buying the umpire a pint tonight. That’s harsh.”
Captain Cook and the generous Hales led the England recovery late on Friday, charging on to 120-0 at the close of day three - a lead of 17.