Jason Roy has been tossed an international lifeline after being included in England’s ODI squad for a three match series against Australia.
The 32-year-old had been cut from the T20 squad on the eve of the World Cup following a miserable summer with the bat, but skipper Jos Buttler and coach Matthew Mott have backed him in the 50 over format once more.
Roy replaces Alex Hales for the curious add on series which comes at the end of the T20 World Cup and signals the start of a focus on the 50-over game ahead of the 2023 World Cup in India.
It is a big vote of confidence in the Surrey opener who is set to open the batting with Phil Salt but had a horror summer, scoring just 121 runs at an average of 24.2 in ODI cricket, and 76 runs at 12.66 in T20s.
England clearly view the three matches as important, sticking with nine of the T20 World Cup squad and two travelling reserves for the series, which also happens to work well on a sustainability and costs front too.
Four players, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood, Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone, are heading to Pakistan for the Test series, while Tymal Mills joins Hales on the bench having replaced Reece Topley in the World Cup 15.
It means there is a promotion into the squad for Luke Wood and Liam Dawson who have been travelling reserves so far, while the experienced Sam Billings and James Vince will fly out to join the squad along with pace bowler Olly Stone.
England Men's ODI squad
Buttler (c), Moeen, Billings, Curran, Dawson, Jordan, Malan, Rashid, Roy, Salt, Stone, Vince, Willey, Woakes, Wood
Itinerary
1st ODI: Thursday 17 November 2022, Adelaide
2nd ODI: Saturday 19 November 2022, Sydney
3rd ODI: Tuesday 22 November 2022, Melbourne
