JUSTIN TIME TO DECIDE
CHALLENGE CUP Good pals Burns and Roy out to prove they are a perfect pair for England at the top of the order SWIMMING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ST HELENS head coach Justin Holbrook has vowed not to let doubts over his future hamper their Wembley dream.
Saints head into Saturday’s Challenge Cup semi-final against Halifax with Holbrook, who is out of contract at the end of the RORY BURNS admits he still has plenty to prove as an England opening batsman but at least gets a chance to shine this week alongside his best mate.
The Surrey captain will walk out against Ireland next to Jason Roy, his county and now country team-mate, with whom he has been playing since he was a 10 year old.
It has been a long and fruitful relationship, with Burns best man at Roy’s wedding and the roles soon set to be reversed.
Burns has six Tests under his belt following a winter in Sri Lanka and the West Indies, while Roy is yet to make his debut to go with the 84 one-day internationals he has played. season, being tracked by NRL side Gold Coast Titans.
Saints want him to stay and Holbrook said: “The quicker it gets sorted out, one way or another, the better so that it doesn’t become a distraction.
“I do not want it to be about me, it is embarrassing.” And the familiarity might just help settle their nerves as both play in a Test match on English soil for the first time, even though they have not opened the batting much together.
“I’ve known Jase since he was 10, so to stride out in a Test match with him is a pretty cool feeling,” said Burns. “It will be an exciting time.
“In our school days we might have opened the batting, but very fleetingly. We first met playing East Surrey district cricket and then Surrey up all through the age groups.
“Bleach blond hair and a massive head is how I remember him and quite an aggressive stroke player. He hasn’t changed much since. Like most of the guys coming in and in amongst it, you have to try and cement a place in the side and I’ve done OK but not really set the world alight.
“In the winter I felt comfortable in the environment, felt comfortable with what I was up against. I just probably didn’t quite cash in and get the scores I would have liked.
“I’ve definitely more to prove because Test cricket is a different animal. When you’ve got a start you’ve really got to push on and make it count.”
That is certainly a lesson Roy has learned in 50-over cricket, scoring five of his nine one-day hundreds in the past 12 months. He will be making his Test debut at Lord’s where just days
TOO MUCH PACE FOR PEATY
ADAM PEATY won his third successive world 100m breaststroke title in South Korea yesterday.
The 24-year-old (left) is unbeaten at this distance at major tournaments for five years and has set the 15 fastest times ever recorded. But after winning the final, Peaty admitted the only reason ago he became a 50-over world champion, which should give him confidence.
The hope is Roy’s hard hitting skills in the white ball game can be transferred across in much the same way as David Warner did for Australia.
“If Jase goes out and plays the way he does and makes good decisions, we’ve seen, particularly over the last two years, what a wonderful player he is,” said Burns. “I don’t think there’s any reason why he can’t translate his white ball form to his red ball form, he has really matured as a player.
“I think you’d be hard pushed to find a more naturally talented batsman.
“Over the last couple of years you’ve seen him rein it in, understand his game a bit more and sort of piece it all together.”
You won’t find a more naturally gifted batsman than Jason Roy
his 57.14sec time did not beat the world record he set in the semi-final was because he was trying to swim too fast.
“I had to be a better version of myself to go faster than Sunday,” said Peaty.
“Unfortunately I made a little mistake on that first length, trying to force the speed a bit too much. But the most important lesson is I’m still learning.”