ROY: HALES TO STORM INTO THE WINDIES
SWIMMING
ALEX HALES is expected to be given the all-clear to resume his destructive opening partnership with ‘useless’ Jason Roy in the West Indies.
Hales is confident his broken hand, sustained during the India one-dayers, has healed well enough for him to join the squad in the Caribbean, but he needs to get the medical green light today.
“I would expect to resume my partnership with Alex,” said Roy, who made 79 in the first warm-up in St. Kitts.
“We’ve some very good players but Hales will probably come straight back in. He deserves that spot, but it’s a big opportunity for Sam Billings (above) to show what he’s got.
“I have got a nice thing going with Alex, but I like batting with all of them.”
Hales and Roy have been a crucial double act in England’s white-ball resurgence breaking records with their big-hitting style.
But only one of them managed to catch the eye of the Indian Premier League teams in last week’s auction.
To pick up more of his £120,000 pay cheque Roy will be flying back and forth to India to play for the Gujarat Lions either side of two matches against Ireland.
Initially, after going unsold in the first part of the auction, the Surrey man was feeling pretty down on himself. “I woke myself up at 4am and had a look at the auction,” he added. “It said ‘Jason Roy unsold’ and I threw my phone on to the floor and was like, ‘I’m just useless’. “Anyway, I was lucky enough to get picked up in the second round. It’s going to be good fun.
“But I’ll be back for the Ireland game.
“It’s not just about the money. It’s the first time I’m involved in it.
“You get used to playing in front of massive crowds and the pressure is on to do well.”
The first of three one-day internationals is on Friday in Antigua. OLYMPIC silver medallist Michael Jamieson has retired from competitive swimming after revealing his battle with depression.
Jamieson (left), runner-up in the 200m breaststroke at London 2012, said: “I just sat down and started asking questions, like ‘What am I doing here? All I have to show for 20 years of work is a medal – what does that mean?’
“When it got to that level I knew I needed to get help.”