England limited-overs skipper Eoin Morgan in the recent interview revealed wicket-keeper batsman Jonny Bairstow is all set to open the innings with explosive batsman Alex Hales.
However, Jason Roy, who is expected to be, overlooked for the Playing XI in the series opener of the five-match Royal London One-day international series beginning at Old Trafford on Tuesday (September 19).
“We feel that he deserves a chance after waiting in the wings for quite a while now,” Morgan told Sky Sports.
The 31-year-old Dublin-born Morgan has backed Bairstow in a bid to retain his place while adding the latter has a point to prove, to cement his spot in the 50-over competition.
“It is an opportunity to make the opening position his,” Morgan remarked.
Interestingly, the makeshift 27-year-old Durban-born opener Roy had a poor show with the bat after a solid start, in the top-flight cricket.
Roy couldn’t score a fifty in his past nine matches. He was also dismissed on naught in the One-off Twenty20 international at Durham on Saturday (September 16), as visitors in the form of Windies won the match by 21 runs.
Earlier, the Yorkshire-born 27-year-old middle-order batsman Bairstow was hopeful to make big into the limited-overs set-up for the Three Lions.
Bairstow was handed over a task to start the proceedings alongside Hales in the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final clash against Pakistan in Cardiff.
Morgan, who is averaging 38.73 in 185 ODIS, revealed the side suffered immensely after failing to make it to the final of Champion Trophy while adding the unit is looking forward to giving their best.
“We felt we weren’t good enough to make the final. There is a little bit of angst there and will to produce a significant performance in this series,” Morgan further added.
In the first semi-final, Bairstow scored 43 off 57 balls, as the hosts lost the all-important clash by eight wickets.
Morgan reiterated they are focusing on taking on one-match after another, as he stressed the home side made a thorough assessment of visiting players including their strength and weakness.
“We have plans for each and every one of their payers, whether we execute the plans or not is down to the skill level we produce on game day,” Morgan concluded.
Pertinently, it will be hosts first 50-over game after June 14 – to face Caribbean side-led by Jason Holder.
While wrapping it up, the Windies need to thump English side 5-0 which is highly unlikely, to be the automatic preference for the World Cup 2019 after leapfrogging Sri Lanka which is currently ranked eighth in ICC rankings.
However, the other scenario is 4-0, as the fifth ODI should end-up on a tie or extract no-result.