Bairstow and Roy to team up again - but in the IPL!
ENGLAND batsman Jason Roy will feature in the 2021 Indian Premier League after Sunrisers Hyderabad snapped up the opener as a replacement for Mitchell Marsh.
The 30-year-old had looked set to miss out on the tournament after no bids for the Surrey player were forthcoming during the mini-auction in February.
At the time, Roy tweeted that it was a ‘massive shame’ he was not going to be involved, but he will now be part of the Sunrisers franchise along with a couple of familiar faces.
The England opener can renew his record-breaking partnership with countryman Jonny Bairstow after the pair shone in the recent Twenty20 and oneday international series in India.
Roy will also work under coach Trevor Bayliss, who left the ECB two years ago after helping England win the 50-over World Cup, while Australian David Warner is captain of the Hyderabad-based side.
During the recent T20 series with India, the opener scored 144 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 132.11.
Personal reasons were cited for Roy pulling out of the 2020 IPL and, after being released by franchise Delhi Capitals ahead of the auction, the batsman will take part in this edition of the tournament, which starts on April 9.
“Marsh has made himself unavailable for the competition for personal reasons, allowing Sunrisers to select a new player after the formal drafting process,” a statement on the Surrey website read.
“Roy will now be unavailable for selection for Surrey for the months of April and May, with the IPL set to finish on May 30.
“He joins Sam and Tom Curran in the competition, with
Sam to play for Chennai Super Kings and Tom for Delhi Capitals.”
Meanwhile, Josh de Caires, the teenage son of former England captain Michael Atherton, registered an unbeaten hundred for Leeds/Bradford MCC Universities against Yorkshire on the third and final day of their friendly match ahead of the start of the County Championship next week.
The 18-year-old, who last August signed a three-year deal with Middlesex, resumed on 94 at Headingley against a bowling attack comprising of England international David Willey, plus Ben Coad, Steven Patterson and Matt Fisher.
De Caires duly made his way to three figures and was caught off a no-ball on 103 before retiring on 118 from 292 balls to help the student side to 302 for three at lunch in response to Yorkshire’s 485 for five declared.
De Caires, who came through the Middlesex academy and made his second XI bow for the county aged 15, is yet to make his first-class debut.