Bayliss: We miss Roy but we aren’t going to risk him
Head coach Trevor Bayliss has admitted England are missing Jason Roy’s influence, but will not gamble with his fitness for the crunch game against Australia.
Roy has missed the last two games with a torn hamstring and was conspicuous by his absence in Friday’s surprise defeat to Sri Lanka at Headingley. There is an acknowledgement in the dressing-room that England were too timid in pursuit of a modest 233, with captain Eoin Morgan suggesting they neglected the basics and Jos Buttler bemoaning a “passive” display as they lost by 20 runs. One of Roy’s biggest strengths is his ability to inject adrenaline into the innings from ball one and prior to his injury he was in prime form, averaging 82 in his first seven ODI innings this summer. The Surrey man has been targeting a return in Tuesday’s Lord’s date with Australia, but that already looks touch and go, with the 28-yearold moving gingerly while
fulfilling 12th man duties in Leeds and with just two days of net practice to come.
“If someone of Jason’s ilk is not playing of course you’re going to miss someone like that,” said Bayliss. “That’s the game. He’s injured and I’m not exactly sure when he’ll be back, but we are looking forward to him coming back.
“We’re not going to risk him that’s for sure. We’ll play each game as it comes and get the medical people to let us know whether they think he is right for the next game. If he’s not, well, we’ll do the same heading into the next game.” Doing the same means another opportunity for James Vince at the head of the innings. The Hampshire man was not expecting to be involved in the tournament until Alex Hales’ off-field indiscretions saw him axed from the provisional squad, and his record is far from stellar.
In 10 completed innings at this level he averages just 26.50, with a top score of 51, and he has weighed in with inconsequential knocks against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka since stepping into Roy’s boots.
Asked if he found Vince’s productivity infuriating, Bayliss responded: “Not as infuriating as it is for him.
“He looks a million dollars then he finds a way to get out. Hopefully he’s one of those guys who can put one together and it tips him over the edge and he gets a string of big scores. He’s certainly a good player, but he’ll be looking to play a longer dig.”
India almost ended up with egg on their faces before Mohammed Shami’s final-over hat-trick broke Afghanistan hearts to seal an 11-run World Cup win at Southampton yesterday. Shami’s four for 40 and Jasprit Bumrah’s two for 39 delivered a bowling masterclass to allow India to defend their paltry 224 for eight from 50 overs. Mohammad Nabi’s 52 had Afghanistan eyeing the greatest-ever World Cup upset, only for Shami to send him packing, then clean bowl Alam and Ur Rahman. Meanwhile, New Zealand set the Windies a target of 291 for eight at Old Trafford – mainly thanks to 148 by Kane Williamson – but, despite a century from Carlos Braithwaite, they came up five runs short.