JASON JOY!
Roy has rediscovered his love of the game... and now wants to rack up the runs to go with it
JASON ROY forgot how it felt to bat in front of a crowd until 20 fans turned up to watch him at net practice.
Now he’s got to remember how to make big scores.
Since the World Cup final heart-stopper against New Zealand, England’s opener has scored just one international half-century in 16 white-ball innings.
A nation remains eternally grateful for his pinpoint throw from the midwicket boundary to run out Martin Guptill in the super-over drama at Lord’s 20 months ago.
But Roy is keen to remind England fans of his clean hitting and match-winning capacity in the T20 series against India, which is tied at 1-1 going into today’s third instalment in Ahmedabad.
The Surrey star got the taste for big runs again for Perth Scorchers in Australia’s Big Bash and scores of 49 and 46 in India suggest a ‘daddy’ may be just around the corner.
Roy, who is only 15 runs short of 1,000 in T20 internationals, said: “This whole year – with no crowds being around, and everything that is going on around the game, puts loads of stuff in perspective.
“Then you add your own personal work not going quite as well as you want, and it can get really on top of you.
“I hadn’t played enough cricket so I needed to play in the Big Bash – and the moment I got there, before the first game, I had 20-odd people watching me in the nets.
“I had a sense of an adrenalin rush and belonging again, and it was the most incredible feeling.
“Playing in front of crowds makes you realise that they mean a huge amount to us as sportsmen.”
Roy’s buzz may be shortlived. England’s remaining three T20 internationals against India in Ahmedabad will be played behind closed doors. Rising coronavirus cases in the state of Gujarat means no fans will be in attendance at the 110,000-capacity stadium.
THE Ahmedabad pitch, on which India beat England in the third Test, will not be punished by the ICC.
The surface was given an ‘average’ rating by the match referee Javagal Srinath and will not earn any ‘demerit points’, and avoids the prospect of venues being suspended from hosting international matches.
ROB PAGE insists Gareth Bale won’t go missing when he plays for Wales this month.
Record scorer Bale is in line to win his 88th cap on March 24 against Belgium in Wales’ opening World Cup qualifier.
He will be looking to add to his 33 international goals after bagging 10 on loan for Spurs from Real Madrid.
Bale was subbed against Arsenal on Sunday (above) in a 2–1 loss when Jose Mourinho accused his stars of “hiding”. But Wales caretaker Page, in charge with Ryan Giggs still on leave, responded: “He’s been first-class every camp.
“He loves coming away to play for his country and I have enjoyed working with him.
“When you are a footballer you set yourself up for criticism and he has taken his fair share of that since he has come back to Tottenham.
“But he is playing well. He is enjoying his football and playing with a smile on his face.
“He can’t worry about what people are saying about him, and he doesn’t. I know Gareth really well now and he is not influenced by that at all.”
Wales have called up Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey despite his Italian club insisting he is injured. Page added: “That is an ongoing situation.”