Aussie agony helped kick us on to reach the final, says Roy
JASON ROY believes England’s 64-run loss to Australia on their last visit to Lord’s was ‘a kick up the a***’ and gave them the boost needed to reach the World Cup final in peak form.
England will step out today as favourites to lift the trophy for the first time against a New Zealand side also looking to make history.
Things looked considerably different the last time they were in St John’s Wood, pushed to the brink of a group-stage elimination by defeat to the Aussies.
Jolted by that result, England tapped into a do-or-die mentality — confidently beating both the Black Caps and India to seal their knockout place, then exacting revenge against Australia with a resounding semi-final win at Edgbaston.
‘We didn’t get too down or upset but it was obviously a little kick up the a***,’ said Roy. ‘It pushed us to bring out the best in ourselves — and that stands us in good stead for the final.
‘We’re in a very good place with our cricket and, like we’ve shown in the last few games, we’re doing pretty well. Do the right things tomorrow from the start and, hopefully, we’ll get the benefits.’
Roy was blameless for England’s wobble, missing their back-to-back defeats with a torn hamstring. He has passed 50 in six of his seven innings, including a punishing 153 against Bangladesh, and his semi-final knock of 85 was on course to be his best yet until he was given caught behind by Kumar Dharmasena.
Roy’s furious reaction saw him disciplined and fined for breaching the ICC’s disciplinary code and he faces an awkward reunion with the Sri Lankan official, who will stand alongside South Africa’s Marais Erasmus at Lord’s.
‘Emotions run high,’ explained the 28-year-old. ‘There was a lot of passion. There has been a lot of hard work to get where I’ve got now.’
Roy’s fearless approach and muscular style — he hit three consecutive sixes off Steve Smith at Edgbaston, one of which was the biggest ever struck in international at the ground — make him a natural poster boy for the team.
An elevated profile surely awaits if he can contribute to one more winning cause, but that wider celebrity is little more than window dressing to the task at hand.
‘It doesn’t matter what the outside noise is saying, the white noise as we call it. We’ve just got to go out and perform,’ said Roy. ‘It’s nothing to do with the status. We want to win the World Cup and inspire the next generation.’