ROY’S THE BOY WE ARE STICKING WITH

JASON ROY will be England’s opening batsman throughout the Champions Trophy after getting a huge vote of confidence from skipper Eoin Morgan.

It means the only way Jonny Bairstow will get into the side over the next two weeks is if there is an injury.

Some may think Roy is a lucky man to be given a blank cheque by the captain, but, considering England’s habit of making major changes at the start of a tournament and failing, this approach may actually work.

Roy (right) has not yet had the returns he wants this year, but it was on his home ground at the Kia Oval last summer where he hit 162 to show how dangerous he can be. And Morgan understands that, because of the free-spirited way he plays, you have to take the rough with the smooth and back him to come good. “The decision remains the same throughout the tournament,” said Morgan. “Jason Roy is part of our strong opening partnership with Alex Hales. He’ll definitely play and I cannot see it changing.

“I think that, if you’re looking at familiar circumstances pre-T20 World Cup, it was a very similar case. He hadn’t got runs in a warm-up game against New Zealand, and then was a huge part of us getting to the final of that tournament.

“If we want our players to play cagey or without freedom, then yes, we would change things and probably half of us wouldn’t be here.

“So we’re backing up selection with the way we want to play. Jason really epitomises that – the aggression with which he performs, he always plays for the team. He’s a very important part of our side.”

Ben Stokes will play in the opening game, while Chris Woakes and Mark Wood are also expected to return after being given a clean bill of health, allowing England to field their strongest team.