Roy faces chop as England eye title
BAIRSTOW SET TO REPLACE ROY AS OPENER
Hosts can’t afford to carry passengers, says captain Morgan.
England captain Eoin Morgan said yesterday there was a “chance” Jonny Bairstow could replace the struggling Jason Roy for the Champions Trophy semifinal against Pakistan today.
And Morgan insisted he would have “no worries” about Bairstow opening – something he has yet to do in international cricket.
Morgan would not confirm his XI at yesterday’s pre-match press conference in Cardiff, but said there was “a chance we could make a change”.
Surrey opener Roy has averaged just 6.37 from eight ODI innings this season, with a mere two double-figure scores.
Morgan had been staunch in his support of Roy before the Champions Trophy started, saying: “The decision remains the same throughout the tournament ... he’ll definitely play.”
However, that backing has softened in the light of Roy’s repeated failures and Morgan, fresh from his impressive 87 in England’s group win over Australia, indicated the team could not afford to ‘‘carry’’ anyone as they went in search of a first major ODI tournament triumph.
“I mentioned after the last game that we’re getting to the business end of the tournament and we need to produce results, so it’s important that we get what we feel is our best XI to win the tournament out tomorrow (today) order to win the game,” said Morgan.
Bairstow, in marked contrast to Roy, has scored three fifties in his last four ODI innings when standing in for others in England’s top order.
Although he’s yet to open in ODI cricket, Test wicketkeeper Bairstow’s highest domestic oneday score of 174, for Yorkshire against Durham last month, came at the top of the order.
“Jonny’s qualities are that he’s a fantastic batsman,” Morgan said.
Morgan cited Bairstow’s unbeaten 83 in England’s ODI series-clinching win over New Zealand at Chester-le-Street in 2015 as proof of the 27-year-old’s ability to rise to the occasion.