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England have offered discarded opener Jason Roy the chance to make himself available as an injury reserve for the World Cup, but accept his selection heartbreak may be too tough to overcome.<\/p>\n
Roy, a crucial part of the trophy-winning 2019 side, was named in a provisional group of 15 for next month\u2019s tournament in India but found himself squeezed out by Harry Brook when the final squad was announced on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The U-turn came after Roy suffered back spasms that ruled him out of the recent New Zealand series, setting in chain a sequence of events that saw understudy Dawid Malan ink his name in at the top of the order and positioned Brook as the most versatile additional batter.<\/p>\n
By axing a player with 116 caps and eight years of experience as a mainstay of the side, England showed a cut-throat approach to defending their 50-over crown and raised uncertainty over Roy\u2019s international future.<\/p>\n
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He was offered the chance to join a second-string side for three ODIs against Ireland but turned that down after receiving the crushing news from skipper Jos Buttler over the weekend. National selector Luke Wright made it clear that England still view Roy as an option for the World Cup should one of their top three be ruled out, but that is an olive branch that may not be accepted.<\/p>\n
Roy lost his T20 place before another World Cup last year, cancelled the remainder of his central contract to play Major League Cricket in the United States this summer and may instead find himself weighing up the benefits of retiring from England altogether.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs you can imagine, he\u2019s absolutely gutted and I wouldn\u2019t expect anything else. I feel for him, as I feel for anyone you leave out,\u201d said Wright.<\/p>\n
For Jason now, I’m sure he’s got some thinking to do over the initial disappointment. It is obviously not an easy pill to swallow.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we certainly haven\u2019t ruled him out. For Jason now, I\u2019m sure he\u2019s got some thinking to do over the initial disappointment, but we\u2019ve made clear that if there\u2019s an injury at the top of the order, there\u2019s definitely the option for him to come in as the reserve.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve made it very clear that we still see him as the man to do that. I don\u2019t think there\u2019s any reason why we wouldn\u2019t. We\u2019ve spoken to him about that and he has time to reflect over the next few days. It is obviously not an easy pill to swallow.\u201d<\/p>\n
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England plan to take just one travelling reserve with them on what is a gruelling schedule in India, with Jofra Archer joining the group as part of his continuing rehabilitation from a stress fracture in the right elbow. Others under consideration will be permitted to stay at home until required.<\/p>\n
Wright was sympathetic about Roy\u2019s reluctance to join up with a shadow team to take on the Irish so soon after being ousted, but added that the offer remained open for the second and third games.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve given Jason the option of being involved and he still has the option,\u201d said Wright.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe wasn\u2019t expecting to be in that Ireland squad and then to get the news that he was missing out on the World Cup all came as a bit of a hammer blow. So we\u2019ve left that with him. The first game at Headingley has come too soon but there is still the option of those last two games. We\u2019ve made it apparent to Jason that we won\u2019t judge him differently for that position as the spare batter at the top of the order whether he plays against Ireland or not. We\u2019ll work on that one over the next few days.\u201d<\/p>\n
One man who will take the field for the first ODI is Joe Root, who requested to play at his home ground despite having the chance to rest up before India. He lacked rhythm against the Black Caps, making just 39 in four innings, and is keen for one last hit on familiar turf before travelling.<\/p>\n
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\u201cAs much as we thought he probably needed a break, he just wanted another go,\u201d Wright said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s great for someone still to have that desire to keep wanting to do more and more. It shows what makes him such a world-class player, that when he doesn\u2019t feel quite right that he still wants to tinker and do more.\u201d<\/p>\n