Jason Roy turns down England call-up to face Ireland as he mulls international retirement… days after being left out of England’s World Cup squad in favour of Harry Brook
- The 2019 World Cup winner dropped out due to back spasms
- National selector Luke Wright extended the olive branch with an offer from Ireland
- Roy is still considering whether he wants to be a World Cup reserve for India
Jason Roy has turned down the chance to play in England’s last two one-day internationals against Ireland as he considers his international retirement.
Roy was left out of England’s World Cup squad this week despite previously being told he would be joining India permanently and was instead replaced by Harry Brook.
It certainly looked like the curtain would fall on the England career of one of the most important players in white ball history and a key figure in the 2019 World Cup victory.
But national selector Luke Wright extended an olive branch to Roy, asking him if he would like to play against Ireland at Trent Bridge on Saturday and Bristol next Tuesday and then remain on standby as England’s reserve opener for next month’s World Cup.
Roy said no to the Ireland games on Thursday and is said to be still considering at this stage of his career whether he wants to become a World Cup reserve, staying at home but still being available for an emergency call-up.
Jason Roy has turned down the chance to face Ireland in England’s last two international matches
The 33-year-old was not selected for England’s World Cup squad, with Harry Brook preferred
Chances are, at the age of 33, he will decide the time is right to focus full-time on the lucrative franchise circuit, while still playing for Surrey in the T20 Blast and the Oval Invincibles in the Hundred.
Earlier this season, Roy caused controversy by handing back his England add-on contract, which allowed him to take out the first year of a two-year contract worth £300,000 to play in the new Major League in the US, which now has around threatens the English domestic season.
England today announced that in place of Roy Somerset’s Tom Kohler-Cadmore will join what is a second-tier England side in Nottingham today.
Joe Root, who was due to play in the first match against Ireland on Wednesday, which was abandoned amid farcical scenes at Headingley, will now rest ahead of England’s departure for the World Cup in India next Wednesday.