Ahead of the three-match Test series against Windies in January, England have named an unchanged 15-man squad from the one which finished the successful tour of Sri Lanka recently.
Following the comprehensive three-nil victory against the Sri Lankans, the selectors have decided to keep faith with the squad which registered England’s first overseas series success for four years. Kent all-rounder Joe Denly keeps his place in the squad, staving off competition from Surrey’s Jason Roy and Ollie Pope, while fast-bowler Olly Stone is also retained despite not seeing any action in Sri Lanka.
Despite the series victory in Sri Lanka, the top order batting remains a work in progress, hence the speculation about Roy, who played in the four-day match for the England Lions against Pakistan ‘A’ in UAE last month. “When Jos Buttler was recalled at the start of last summer some people said it was so leftfield, it’s crazy when this person hasn’t played much red ball cricket,” England’s National Selector Ed Smith said at Lord’s. “Now, after Jos is our leading run-scorer in Test cricket, it’s ‘why are you not picking Jason Roy?’.
“Jason Roy is a very talented cricketer. It was great to see him playing well in the last couple of Championship games for Surrey. We wanted him to be part of the Lions tour, which he was, and we continue to watch his development as an all-round cricketer very closely.”
