More misery as Roy falls for golden duck
JAsON ROY’s dreadful summer continued as he was out for a golden duck in his first game of the hundred against a London spirit side led by Eoin Morgan. Chasing 172 to win after Morgan blasted 47
off 29 balls at the Oval, Roy played a loose cut shot off the bowling of Australian Nathan Ellis to a diving Mason Crane at short third man as the Oval invincibles fell to a three-run defeat in the London derby. Roy managed just 76 runs from 98 balls in England’s six T20is this summer at an average of just over 12 and laughed as he trudged off. The 32-year-old will have plenty more opportunities to get some runs under his belt during the hundred but the pressure on the opener will only intensify if the poor form continues.
Roy’s former England captain Morgan marked his return to action after international retirement with a superb knock including three sixes. England have 10 more T20is scheduled before the World Cup in Australia, with a seven-match tour to Pakistan starting next month. An impressive hundred tournament for the likes of Phil salt, James Vince and harry Brook could see England make the tough decision and move on from Roy.