ROY INKED IN AS ASHES OPENER
England call up three new faces but it’s Surrey blaster who will open in Ashes
That’s enough basking in World Cup glory, it’s ashes time. that was the message when England named three potential debutants — Jason Roy, Lewis Gregory and Olly stone — for an inaugural test against Ireland that is essentially practice for the big one against australia.
this summer of all cricketing summers barely allowed England to catch their breath after the tumultuous events of Lord’s before national selector Ed smith popped up at Canterbury yesterday to remind us the old enemy lie in wait for the red-ball half of this all-important season.
It is a pity a ridiculously gruelling schedule — five ashes tests will be crammed into just over six weeks — does not allow the country to relish the barely believable World Cup final for longer, but such is the game’s obsession with packed programmes.
It is almost as if Ireland, who England face in a four- day test starting at Lord’s next Wednesday, are a necessary nuisance to get out of the way as all thoughts and planning are being geared to the first ashes test at Edgbaston on august 1.
to that end, England will have to do without Mark Wood, man of the match in England’s last test in st Lucia, for at least the first two ashes matches and probably more due to his side injury, while Jofra archer faces a race against time to be fit for Birmingham. But Jimmy anderson was included in a 13-man squad to face Ireland after making good progress with his calf injury and may play, with a limit put on his workload in a six-man attack.
Perhaps the most significant move was expected — Roy confirmed as the latest opener alongside his surrey team-mate Rory Burns (below) after an 84match one- day career that has shown him to be one of the world’s most destructive batsmen.
It says much for the dearth of alternatives that Roy has followed Jos Buttler by being picked for test cricket on the back of his white- ball form but, really, England have nothing to lose by backing the surrey man’s proven international temperament now.
Roy has the ability to take a test away from australia in a single session and faces Ireland even though he is yet to fully recover from a hamstring injury, simply because he has to have some sort of red- ball practice before facing Mitchell starc.
‘the only question with Jason was when would be the ideal time to bring him in,’ said smith. ‘I spoke at length months ago with Joe Root about the scenario in which Jason finished the World Cup confident and full of runs and went straight into the ashes and that’s what we are doing with him.
‘We’ve all seen him grow and improve in white-ball cricket and he’s a more complete player than he’s ever been. there’s never been any doubt about his talent, audacity and presence at the crease. It really does feel like a good time for him to come in.’
Gregory, too, looks certain to play as a bowling all- rounder batting at nine as a reward for consistently impressive form for somerset and the Lions — even though, at 27, he might not have the pace for an extended test career. stone is only just back bowling for Warwickshire after a stress fracture of the back cut short his involvement with England in the winter and is a surprise pick now. But he can provide the pace lacking in the absence of archer and Wood.
stone will complete the trio of debutants if England decide not to risk anderson or Chris Woakes. Meanwhile, Jack Leach’s presence in the 13 is a reminder to Moeen ali that he needs to regain his batting touch if he is not to lose his test place as well as his 50-over one.
England have shown sense by resting Ben stokes and Buttler, while smith admitted coach trevor Bayliss had a word with Jonny Bairstow, who had a groin niggle ahead of the World Cup final, to see if he wanted to join them on the sidelines. he did not.
Now Bairstow has the keeping gloves back from Ben Foakes, he has no intention of letting them go, and Foakes does not even make the training camp of ashes hopefuls that England will stage at st George’s Park this weekend.
But the fact is, Bairstow is a world-class batsman and has the ability to solve England’s problems in the top three, where Burns and Joe Denly, as well as the untried Roy, have much to prove if they are to end as well as start the ashes series.
Foakes has not only proved himself probably the best wicketkeeper in the world, but is arguably a good enough batsman to be a better long-term bet than Denly at three if playing without the gloves. England may have to look at this one again.
the great shame is that archer is not fit to join the debutants after his spectacular World Cup introduction, but
England have shown good management in allowing the 24-year- old superstar to rest and recuperate in Barbados rather than st George’s Park.
‘We’re not sure when Jofra will be available for selection again but he is in contention when he is fit,’ added smith. ‘the medical staff are all over the situation.
‘he suffered a side strain but kept performing to a very high level at the World Cup. there will be full attention at getting him back as soon as possible.’
For now England should have plenty to defeat Ireland and get some all-important miles in the legs of their bowlers, with experience of the red ball on the highest stage for Roy.
World Cup? What World Cup?