Knight Riders confirms Alex Hales for 2026 season

Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) has confirmed a bunch of signings for the upcoming Major League Cricket (MLC) season. MLC 2026 is all set to start from June 19. Ahead of the season opener, the franchise has announced some of its confirmed signings, including the English opener Alex Hales.

LAKR has secured the signing of Alex Hales for another season. Hales has played 7 matches for the Los Angeles Knight Riders before in the franchise league. In those seven matches, the opener scored only 116 runs for a strike rate of 130.33 and with a batting average of 16.57.

Alex Hales is all set to play for the Los Angeles Knight Riders in MLC 2026

“Knight Riders fans, it’s Alex Hales here. I can’t wait to be back in action for the LA Knight Riders this year in the MLC and also to play a home stadium in Los Angeles. It’s going to be unbelievable,” Alex Hales said through a video message.

Knight Riders will play this year’s MLC in their own home ground, which is currently under construction, and in the future, the newly built stadium will host the 2028 Olympic Games.

“The Knight Riders Cricket Ground will become a long-term, world-class cricket infrastructure in the region. The venue is set to host seven matches, including LAKR’s first three home fixtures of the 2026 MLC season from July 1–5, bringing elite T20 cricket and a high-energy fan experience to Los Angeles,” LAKR stated on their official website about one week ago.

Alongside Alex Hales, the franchise has announced further signings. Andre Fletcher, Colin Munro, and Lloyd Pope are also confirmed to play for the LAKR in the MLC 2026 season. It will be Lloyd Pope’s first-ever Major League season; he has never played in this franchise league before.

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An Australian legspinner is set to make his debut in the MLC

The 26-year-old Australian spin bowling all-rounder is an exciting addition to the team. Lloyd Pope was in good form with the ball in the Big Bash League 2025-26 season for the Adelaide Strikers. In the BBL 2025-26 season, Pope took 15 wickets in 10 matches at an economy rate of 8.17.

A few years back, Lloyd Pope was considered one of the most exciting talents in Australia. In Queenstown in 2018, he demolished England with figures of 8 for 35, the best figures ever produced in an Under-19 World Cup. In that match, England needed only 128 to win, but the legspinner restricted them to only 96 runs and secured a historic win for the Australia U-19 team.

“Really looking forward to getting over to the US to play for the Knight Riders in the MLC this year. Really looking forward to it, I’ve never been to the US or played in the MLC before, so we’re looking forward to this opportunity and keen to see everyone soon in Los Angeles,” Lloyd Pope said.