Alex Hales has admitted that he feared being hung out to dry by the England selectors should he be dismissed while playing in an aggressive manner at the World Cup.

Eoin Morgan's side were dumped out at the group stage of this winter's tournament in Australia and New Zealand and were accused of being too cautious and predictable.

Hales, who has previously been ranked the number one Twenty20 batsman in the world, has long been tipped as a solution to England's lack of dynamism at the top of the order and was given the final two group games to make a difference.

However, the Nottinghamshire opener has admitted that there was a fearful mentality, not evident in the World Cup's most successful teams, that was discouraging him from playing his natural game and hindering England as a whole - making 27 against Bangladesh and 37 versus Afghanistan.

"I have had that little bit of fear that I cannot hit an attacking shot or get out in an attacking way, in case I am dropped for the next game," Hales told BBC Sport.

"I have been in and out - playing the odd game here and there, then dropped, then back in. If I was backed and given a run I believe I can succeed.

"The biggest thing I have learned from the World Cup is to play your cricket with no fear. As a team we have got to get rid of that mentality completely and attack in the middle overs and have no fear of failure. You look at the four semi-finalists, the four best teams, none of them had any fear in their cricket."

Hales averages 21.11 in nine one-day international matches, with a highest score of 42 against India.