Roy set to turn his back on IPL Lions

JASON ROY looks set to give Surrey a boost after he revealed he is likely to opt out of returning to the Indian Premier League following the ODI series against Ireland to concentrate on playing in the One-Day Cup.

The England opener is keen to cut short his spell with Gujarat Lions, for whom he has only made three IPL appearances for so far, to represent Surrey in domestic 50-over cricket.

Roy, limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan and Sam Billings have all been given permission to return to India at the conclusion of the twomatch series against Ireland next month.

But the 26-year-old believes his preparations for the Champions Trophy would be better served by playing in three one-day games for Surrey rather than sitting on the bench in the IPL.

“I’m discussing with Andrew Strauss [England’s director of cricket], whether to come back out here to the IPL or to get cracking with Surrey in the One-Day Cup,” said Roy.

“I think it is probably a good idea to get my head round 50-over cricket as much as possible especially if I’m not really playing a huge amount out here in India, it is just a bit of a waste really.”

On his time in the IPL, Roy added: “I’m in good form, but there is not much I can do about selection.”