JASE CHASES BIG SCORE
JASON ROY will be given one more Test to prove he can make it as an opener before England cut their losses and shift him to the middle order.
The backroom staff still believe the Surrey man (inset) has what it takes to make it as a Test match batsman but his returns so far alongside his best mate Rory Burns have been minimal.
And while the upside of his attacking style could be an electric start to England’s innings, he has not hung round long enough yet for anyone to find out if he can cut it.
“I think he is a middleorder player but the one spot available was at the top,” said England coach
Trevor Bayliss.
“That meant Jason coming in and with his experience of white-ball cricket, yes we know it’s different, that’s the option we took.
“It hasn’t worked yet but he could easily come out and blast a quick 100.
“Long term he’s more middle order, he’d feel more comfortable there. You’d
Trescothick who has been helping out in the nets during the series.
The England batsman was wearing a stemguard protector at the base of his helmet which reduced the impact of the blow.
It was in a similar area to Smith, who was hit flush on the neck during the second Test have to ask him exactly how he’s feeling but it’s obviously not quite the same as opening the batting in a white-ball game.” Joe Denly currently has the No.4 spot but has more experience of opening the batting in first-class cricket than Roy. England, though, are sticking with their current line-up in Leeds this week.
They will continue with Ben Stokes at five and will ask Jonny Bairstow to bat at six – above Jos Buttler if he has not already kept wicket. Bayliss added: “Personally I’d like to see the guys stick to a position and everyone becomes comfortable but it is one of the difficulties. “The all-rounders having to back up after bowling or keeping is one of the challenges, exactly what the answer is we’re trying to work out.
“It’s something we have to look at going forward.
“There might come a time when we have to put a foot down and say, ‘No, this is what’s happening. Like it or lump it.’”