Sangakkara: Roy could easily play Test cricket

Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara believes Jason Roy has the ability to play Test cricket for England, saying the batsman must trust in his own skills to be successful.
The 25-year-old Roy has become a permanent fixture at the top of the order for England in both limited-overs formats with his attacking style of batting.
Sangakkara, who scored more than 12000 runs in 134 Tests, is Roy's teammate at Surrey and watched on as the right-hander smashed 85 off 88 balls, batting in the middle-order, against Somerset in their last County Championship game.
With James Taylor being forced to retire from cricket due to serious heart condition, it has opened up a spot in the England batting order in the longest format and Sangakkara has no doubts that Roy can fill the void.
Roy has a first-class average of 37.29 after 64 matches, including six centuries and 16 fifties.
Sangakkara said: "He has got more ability than I have and a much greater repertoire of shots, definitely. Jason could easily play Test cricket, he's the kind of player that can play any form of the game.
"He is a player who can take a game away from the opposition very, very quickly and that is very important in the modern game. I just hope that he gets his opportunity and maximises it.
"I love watching him bat. I think he's been wonderful for England in the one-day and T20 format and I sense he has a real hunger and desire to play the longer version as well.
"The key for Jason is that he trusts in his own ability and doesn't try to be anyone else."
Latest
-
News
Proteas name Test squad for Pakistan tour
South Africa have named a 21-man touring party for the two-Test series in Pakistan.
-
News
Smith makes distinction between out of runs and out of form
Steve Smith put paid to the suggestion he was out of form with a fighting hundred against India.
-
News
England warm-up under way in Sri Lanka
The touring squad has returned a second round of clear Covid-19 tests following Moeen Ali’s positive result.
-
News
Jack Leach awaiting Covid vaccine news after ‘scary’ vulnerable classification
The England spinner takes medication for Crohn’s disease, leaving his immune system weakened.
-
News
Jonny Bairstow ready to tap into Jacques Kallis class during Sri Lanka tour
The England batsman is enthused about working with the Proteas great.
-
News
Heather Knight to lead England in ‘historic’ Pakistan tour
England Women will play two T20s and three ODIs in Karachi later this year.
-
News
Claire Polosak makes history as first woman to officiate a men’s Test
Claire Polosak continues to blaze a trail for women in umpiring.
-
News
Pooran insists West Indies will be a T20 World Cup threat
You would be foolish to discount the West Indies in the short format despite their poor run of late.
-
News
Andrew Balbirnie excited about Ireland’s year ahead
Ireland will play seven internationals in January, the same as the whole of 2020.
-
News
Zak Crawley out to prove he is no ‘one-hit wonder’ in Sri Lanka
The Kent batsman, 22, hit a magnificent 267 against Pakistan on his previous England appearance in August.