Buttler praises Roy’s rise to prominence

Cricket365
April 14, 2016

England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler is considered his side's most destructive batsman in T20s these days, but he has heaped praise on opener Jason Roy, who scored two vital innings in the World Twenty20.

Roy's career had been average at best ahead of the tournament, but a big half century in the semi-final against New Zealand propelled him into the spotlight, and Buttler feels it was only a matter of time.

Buttler said on the ECB website ahead of the final against the West Indies: "Jason Roy has been threatening to do that sort of thing for a long time, as everyone has seen, and I think he will really kick on and really show just how capable he is.

"There is a lot more to come from him but what a great innings and, at that time, again shows what kind of characters we have in the team that he wants to step up and be that person who wants to take the limelight and show off what he can do."

Another crucial knock from Roy was his 43 against South Africa in the group stage. The Proteas had posted a massive 230-plus, and Roy got his side off to a flying start in the chase, setting the foundation for a remarkable win.

Buttler added: "I always sit by the TV to start with, Jason Roy get us off to an absolute flyer. That momentum that we got at the start of the innings that score just seemed so attainable once we got that start.

"I remember everyone sitting there thinking we only need 10 an over and it just seemed like we were going to do it. Joe Root played an unbelievable innings to get us pretty much the whole way there."

Considering Roy averaged less than 20 in the format ahead of the tournament, and had yet to score a half ton, his purple patch came at the perfect time, much like Kevin Pietersen's in 2010 when he opened the batting in the tournament and led them to the title.