Jason Roy has been axed from England’s World Cup squad, with Harry Brook drafted in in his place, after the selectors made a dramatic late amendment to their 15-man squad for the tournament in India which gets underway in just under three weeks’ time.
Roy, 33, was an integral member of the England squad that won the World Cup in 2019, and had been named in England’s provisional squad for the defence of their title, ahead of their four-match series against New Zealand this month.
However, he was unable to feature in any of the four games after suffering a series of back spasms. In his absence, Roy’s rival for the opener’s role, Dawid Malan, made an unequivocal case for a starting role in the tournament, finishing as Player of the Series with 277 runs at 92.33 in three games, including a matchwinning century at Lord’s.
Consequently, it will be Malan and Jonny Bairstow who will open the batting for England when their tournament gets underway against New Zealand on October 5.