England lose Jason Roy for rest of T20 World Cup, James Vince in as replacement

James Richardson
Jason Roy

England batsman Jason Roy has been ruled out of the rest of the 2021 T20 World Cup due to a calf muscle injury.

Roy sustained the injury during last week’s 10-run defeat to South Africa. England advanced to the semi-finals despite the loss.

They will play New Zealand in the first semi-final on Wednesday in an attempt to reach a third T20 World Cup final. They won the title in 2010, when the tournament was still called the World Twenty20.

Roy ‘gutted’

“I’m gutted to be ruled out of the World Cup,” said Roy.

“It is a bitter pill to swallow. I will be staying on to support the boys and hopefully we can go all the way and lift that trophy. It has been an unbelievable journey so far and we have to continue expressing ourselves and concentrating on us.

“The rehabilitation has already started and even though I’ve torn my calf, I’m going to give myself the best chance of being ready for the T20I tour of the Caribbean at the start of next year.”

Also read: Five points worth knowing for England vs NZ semi-final

Morgan already misses Roy

The right-handed Roy had propelled England to several solid starts alongside fellow opener Jos Buttler before getting injured. He had joined the squad in the United Arab Emirates after playing for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League, which was also hosted in the UAE.

“He’s a guy who epitomises everything that we are about in the changing room and the way we play,” added captain Eoin Morgan. “You see how commanding he is at the top of the order – he’s as close as we get to surmising how the changing room should play.

“We’re gutted for Jason but also half-hoping that he’s okay. For anyone to miss the latter stages of a tournament – particularly when it’s been too guys in two games – that does hurt the mood.

“You go through the names that either aren’t here through injury or other reasons – Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, Sam Curran, Tymal Mills.

“You look back at the times that you’ve really explored and tried to build a squad, and I’m sitting here thankful that we have done that because we’re going to need those guys in the next game and possibly in the final.”

Vince in for Roy

James Vince England World Cup PA

Fellow batsman James Vince has been added to the squad as a replacement. VInce has not played T20I cricket since 2019. He was in decent form for Hampshire in the T20 Blast and the Southern Brave in The Hundred recently.

He has experience in domestic T20 leagues around the world such as the Pakistan Super League, Australia’s Big Bash League, Bangladesh Premier League, South Africa’s Mzansi Super League and New Zealand’s Super Smash.