Jason Roy, the England opener, who has had his struggles against slow bowlers in the past, revealed that he has been working on his game with leg-spinner Adil Rashid in the nets.
Jason Roy top-scored for England with 49 off 32 as the visitors hammered India by eight wickets by successfully chasing the target of 125 in the first T20I in Ahmedabad. The aggressive opener took on the Indian spinners and was particularly severe on Yuzvendra Chahal, whom he launched for two fours and as many sixes.
Jason Roy Did A Lot Of Practice Against Teammate Spinner Adil Rashid
In an interview posted on bcci.tv, Jason Roy revealed that he has been working on his game against spinners. Jason Roy admitted that he has been troubled by slow bowlers in the past.
India was reeling at 20/3 but Shreyas Iyer bailed them out to reach a modest 124 by scoring 67 runs off 48 balls which included 8 fours and a six. India was reeling at 20/3 but Shreyas Iyer bailed them out to reach a modest 124 by scoring 67 runs off 48 balls which included 8 fours and a six. Shreyas Iyer showed the way with a dogged 67-run knock that took Virat Kohli’s men to 124 for seven at the Narendra Modi stadium.
“I have got out to a few bowlers – leg-spinners, left-arm spinners. They are a few bowlers who have (regularly) got me out. But I have done a lot of practice against Adil Rashid in the nets. He’s helped me a lot to learn about my game and my strengths.”
Jason Roy looked set for a fifty but missed a flick and was trapped by Washington Sundar for 49 off 32. The opener, however, did not regret missing the landmark, saying instead that he was happy that England won the game.
“I would have taken 49 at the start of the day and a comfortable victory like that as well.”Praising his team’s collective effort, Jason Roy added: “For us to come out and bowl and field like we did in our first game was incredible to see. That will hold us in good stead for the rest of the series.”
England lost 2 quick wickets of Jason Roy (49) and Jos Buttler (28) but Jonny Bairstow (26*) and Dawid Malan (24*) ensured England’s victory without further hiccups. India will face the visitors next on Sunday 14th March.
Jason Roy, who has played a few seasons of IPL in India, admitted that his previous visits to the country have helped him in moulding his game.
“Hard to answer (impact of IPL on his batting). I am 30 years old now. I have played a fair number of games, and every time you are learning. What I have learned is that you have got to make sure you stay in the game. No matter how good a start you get off to, you have to get the team over the line. The amount of spin I have faced over here, in training and in matches, should hold me in good stead for the rest of the games.”
While Jason Roy starred with the bat, Jofra Archer was declared the Man of the Match for his figures of 3 for 23. Jofra Archer was one of England’s many star performers in the match and did not concede a run from 16 of his 24 deliveries and got the wickets of KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, and Shardul Thakur along the way. He returned with figures of 3/23 and was awarded Man of the Match.