Roy hails ‘perfect start’ as England smash pre-series workout

Jason Roy hails England’s “happy days” in Barbados after they brushed aside a University of West Indies vice-chancellor’s XI on Sunday.

Roy and captain Joe Root both scored centuries as they completed a 171-run warm-up win ahead of their five-match ODI series against the West Indies.

It was England posted 371 for seven at the 3Ws Oval in their first 50-over match of 2019 with Roy reaching 110 and Root making a lovely 114, before limiting the hosts to 200.

The first ODI will be at the Kensington Oval on Wednesday and Roy is confident that England are ready for the West Indies.

“It was good fun, a perfect start from a personal level and as a team,” Roy said.

“We got together a huge total and Rooty got some balls in the middle as well. It was a great bowling effort and a pretty convincing win so it’s happy days.

“With the volume of practice we get in the nets this should be more than enough (preparation). That’s just the way it is and you have to suck it up and get on with it.

“Nets are nets and you can strike it nicely but as soon as you get out in the big bad world it’s a different story. I feel I’m hitting the ball well but Wednesday is another day, so it’s back to the drawing board and try to do exactly what I did here.”