2017 England rob Roy of semi-final spot

REPORTS cricket for Yorkshire, albeit including a knock of 174 against Durham last month. Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur was quick to stir the pot, insisting facing Mohammad Amir and Junaid Khan with new balls in hand might be a different proposition. “I was worried Roy hadn’t fired yet because I think he is close to something good,” he said, provocatively. “Bairstow is a great player. I know he has opened at county level but he’s never done it internationally and I think that is a different ball game.” England believe Bairstow will be the swashbuckling cavalry they need and that he will pick up where he left off with a half-century at Lord’s against South Africa last month. There is no doubt Bairstow has fond memories of not only venue and opposition but of the role as firefighter receiving emergency call-ups. Bairstow made his ODI debut on this ground as a 21-year-old, smashing a 21-ball 41 against India that included three sixes, two of which sailed out of the ground. In 2015 he was drafted into the deciding match of a series against New Zealand and hauled England to victory with an unbeaten 83. Last summer, he was again parachuted in against today’s opposition when there was a last-minute injury and hit 61. Morgan insists Roy remains very much in their plans for the 2019 World Cup but said: “Getting to this stage of the tournament, we need results and if that means somebody misses out, it’s unfortunate. We want to win this tournament.” The ICC say they are confident the semi-final will be played in front of a near full house in Cardiff after offering India fans – who had bought 37 per cent of the tickets – a refund for the purposes of resale. India play Bangladesh in the second semi-final at Edgbaston tomorrow with eager fans having bought tickets for both venues when they went on sale months ago.