Roy is ready to strike out for his pot of gold
THE next few weeks in India possess the potential to transform Jason Roy — a man whose international career began with nothing — into a millionaire.
The 26-year-old has rarely looked back since being dismissed by the first ball received by an England batsman post-2015 World Cup, against New Zealand at Edgbaston.
Since then, his selfless striking has set the tone for England’s new white-ball world under Eoin Morgan, their Irish captain who returns to the helm after ducking the Bangladesh tour on security grounds.
Roy, opening partner Alex Hales, Ben Stokes and Morgan all intend to enter the February 4 auction in a bid to join Jos Buttler and Sam Billings, who are already contracted, for the 2017 edition.
‘I am going to go into the auction to see if someone picks me,’ he said. ‘Last year, I didn’t as I wanted to play in the County Championship, and score some runs to try to push my claims for Test cricket.’
England coach Trevor Bayliss believes he can be a game changer in the middle order and having switched to No5 for Surrey, he is building his case.
‘I really want to play Test cricket,’ said Roy. ‘It has always been an ambition of mine and I have been trying to do as much as I can over the past few years to further my claim. ‘Whatever number they want me, I would be prepared to do it. You just have to be patient and make sure you are making the scores to be considered.’
The three-match ODI series plus the trio of Twenty20 internationals begins a diet of limitedovers cricket for England before hosting the Champions Trophy in June.