In a surprising turn of events, Jason Roy found himself excluded from England’s ICC World Cup 2023 squad due to a series of back spasms. As England opted for the promising young talent, Harry Brook, over the 33-year-old Roy, disappointment loomed over the latter.
Roy’s back spasms led to his absence from the recent white-ball series against New Zealand. With this setback and the inclusion of Harry Brook, the decision-makers chose to go with youth over experience. Disheartened, Roy decided to withdraw from the ongoing Ireland ODIs, raising the possibility of contemplating retirement – a decision he was already considering after the World Cup.
Offering words of encouragement and emphasizing the importance of remaining positive, England’s assistant coach, Marcus Trescothick, urged Roy not to lose hope. Trescothick highlighted the significant role that reserves play in World Cups and pointed out the unpredictability of injuries.
“I haven’t spoken to Jason, but I understand he’s disappointed. Despite this, you must believe that Jason can still have an influence. In World Cups, reserves play a significant role. If you suffer just one injury, someone else may step in and make a ton of runs. We will make that decision if he keeps himself in good shape and is prepared to play,” he said.
Originally, Roy was part of England’s provisional squad, with Harry Brook initially missing out. However, the team management eventually opted for a change, leading to Roy’s exclusion from the final squad. Roy’s exclusion from England’s triumphant squad in the previous year’s T20 World Cup in Australia stemmed from his drop due to poor form just before the mega event.