Picture Credit: Twitter/@englandcricket
In a big blow to the England cricket team, their opening batter Jason Roy has been ruled out of the remainder of ongoing T20 World Cup. Notably, Roy's pullout was round the corner since the player had picked a calf injury during England's final round-robin game at the marquee event against South Africa.
While completing a single during England's batting at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday, Roy suffered calf strain. He had to go off the field after his 20-run knock which came in 15 balls, helped by 4 fours. Notably, the star opener has been replaced by James Vince in the T20 World Cup squad of the Three Lions.
It is a bitter pill to swallow: Jason Roy
"I’m gutted to be ruled out of the World Cup. It is a bitter pill to swallow," said Roy on his withdrawal from the tournament midway.
Roy informed that his rehabilitation has already started and revealed that he would continue staying in UAE to back the England cricket team to win the coveted trophy this year.
"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," he said, adding, "The rehab 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 T20 tour of the Caribbean at the start of next year."
Jason Roy’s ouster from the tournament could be a blessing in disguise for the Three Lions as the batter failed to perform as per the expectations at the ongoing mega event. Roy scored 17 and 0 in the practice matches against India and New Zealand before kicking off his T20 World Cup campaign in almost similar way. In England’s first match at the tournament proper against West Indies, he got out on a score of 11. In the next game, Roy improved and hit his only fifty (61 runs against Bangladesh) of the tournament before scoring 22 against Australia, 9 against Sri Lanka, and 20*.
England face New Zealand next in the first semi-final of T20 World Cup 2021 in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.