ROY INJURY COULD SEE VINCE GET BIG CHANCE
DURHAM SEAMER SAYS ODI DECIDER IS LIKE A WORLD CUP KNOCK-OUT CLASH
England opener Jason Roy may miss today’s series decider against India at Headingley, with James Vince in line for his first one-day international appearance in almost two years.
Roy is struggling with a finger injury on his right hand that he sustained while fielding during the 86-run victory over India at Lord’s on Saturday.
He is rated as highly doubtful to play the third and final ODI in Leeds, so Hampshire captain Vince could be drafted in for the contest, despite not playing a 50-over game for his country since the tour of Bangladesh in October 2016.
Alex Hales has missed this series with a side strain and his replacement in the squad, Dawid Malan, has already been released to play for the England Lions in a four-day contest.
It leaves Vince, who lost his Test place at the start of the summer, with the chance to possibly add to his four ODI innings, having scored over 500 runs in Hampshire’s victorious Royal London One-Day Cup campaign recently.
Today’s contest will also give England a chance to claim an early psychological victory over India ahead of next summer’s World Cup on home soil.
Seamer Mark Wood wants the hosts to embrace the pressure that comes with a must-win scenario and views it as perfect preparation for next year’s tournament, when the stakes will be even higher.
“I think this has an impact for the World Cup,” Wood said. “We can use it as a game where it might be (like) a semi-final or a knockout game. It’s a series decider here, which will be like a World Cup match - it’s a must-win.
“Luckily, over the past year we’ve managed these situations really well. Hopefully we can carry on.”
The previous two matches in this series have featured comprehensive victories for either nation after England responded to their crushing eight-wicket loss at Trent Bridge by bouncing back at Lord’s.
With the countries ranked one and two in the ODI world rankings, Wood attributes the margins to both teams’ killer instincts.
“It’s two very good sides - when they’re on top, they really are on top, you keep your foot on the throat and don’t let opposition up,” he explained.