Sangakkara: Roy will still be an exciting player for England

Cricket365
June 20, 2017

Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara has no doubts that England opening batsman Jason Roy will go on to have a long career at international level after being dropped from the national side.

Roy, a flamboyant batsman, was replaced with Jonny Bairstow for England’s defeat against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy semi-final in Cardiff after a terrible run of low scores.

Sangakkara, who scored more than 14 000 runs in ODI cricket and is now a teammate of Roy at English county side Surrey, believes the right-hander will bounce back and come good again.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Sangakkara said: “I don’t think Jason was ever out of form. I would have loved to have seen him play against Pakistan because I think he was one innings, or a bit of luck, away from doing that for England.

“He missed out, and whether that had an impact on the final result, I do not know. But Jason’s energy, his fielding, his ability to change games at the top, he’s a fantastic asset.

“I think he just needed a little bit of focussing and advice about how to structure his innings in the Champions Trophy.”

Sangakkara added: “Jason has been an exciting find for England and he’ll be an exciting player for England for many years to come. I think in that position, he’s a complete package and a very valuable part of that side.”

Roy is expected to open the batting for England in the three-match T20I series against South Africa that starts on Wednesday.