Jason Roy returns to England ODI squad for post-World Cup Australia series
After a dismal few months in which he lost both his place in England’s Twenty20 side and his central contract, Jason Roy will return to international cricket in November for the three one-day internationals against Australia that follow the T20 World Cup.
England have named a 15-man squad for the series, largely composed of players already in Australia for the World Cup, though seven members of the T20 squad will depart. Ben Stokes, who has retired from the 50-over game, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone and Mark Wood will feature in this winter’s Test series in Pakistan – the Test squad is due to arrive in Abu Dhabi the day before the ODI series begins to play a warm-up match, and to fly to Pakistan four days after it ends.
Tymal Mills, who is unable to play 50-over games for medical reasons, Alex Hales and Richard Gleeson are the others to drop out.
Three other players will join Roy in travelling to Australia for the ODI series: Olly Stone, whose recovery from a broken finger came too late for him to be considered for the World Cup, and whose last cap in the 50-over game came four years ago, as well as James Vince and Sam Billings. The games will be played in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne over six days, starting on 17 November.
Jos Buttler, England’s white-ball captain, has called for umpires during the World Cup to allow play to continue wherever possible, even when there is light rain, with bad weather forecast for much of Australia’s east coast during the Super 12s. “Where it’s reasonable, if you can continue the game I think that’s the right decision,” he said. “Say for instance there’s a little bit of rain which isn’t that heavy and it looks like it’s going to blow through, can we just stay on and keep going?”