Pakistan Super League (PSL) is into its 9th edition. Over the years, we have witnessed PSL scouts unearthing talent from other cricketing nations, particularly England. We may not see premium English names like Ben Stokes or Jos Butler, but we have witnessed some young talent as well as some experienced players who have set the stage on fire.
From high quality batting to some extravagant fielding efforts, English players are one of the reasons why this league is so successful. One name that is a constant mention and an elite foreign pick is Jason Roy.
The opening batter needs to have an impactful season to have any chance of getting back into the starting eleven for the three lions.
PSL 9 Journey
The 33-year-old World Cup winner is an essential part of the Quetta Gladiators franchise. The explosive opener was struggling for form last year until he smashed an unbeaten 145 off just 63 balls in a record chase. This season, Jason Roy is off to a decent start with good scores already under his bag.
Embed from Getty ImagesHis pairing with Saud Shakeel is proving to be a match winning combo for the Gladiators. His ball striking seems to have travelled back in time when he was a force to reckon with. This PSL season, Roy has looked solid. There was a time when he was a touch cautious and had troubles going after spin.
This season, the sweep and reverse sweep is out as he is looking far better than his previous self while tackling spin. Against pace, the fearless approach is evident as he is smashing runs at a healthy strike rate with his team having one of the best powerplay record this season.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Competition
While Jason Roy needs to continue his flow of runs for his franchise, the current opening pair for the English team looks solid. Both Phil Salt and Jos Butler are an unbreakable partnership in the game’s shortest format.
England’s tour of the Caribbean late in 2023 saw both men giving the champions a free-flowing start. The pair opened the batting in each of the 5 games with Phil Salt scoring a ton in 2 games that England managed to win. The Barmy army skipper also grabbed 2 fifty plus scores.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe point to consider from a Jason Roy perspective is how he will get into this team. With the World Cup also being held in the West Indies, it seems unlikely that England will change this pair. You do not fix what is not broken.
Having said that, we have witnessed Phil Salt batting at no.3 many times including the T20 World Cup final against Pakistan in 2022. The number 3 spot is still far from settled with Will Jacks not cementing his place.
There may be a case for either Butler or Salt going to the one down position if Roy becomes unavoidable with his Pakistan Super League (PSL) performances.
Another case for Jason Roy could see him bat at 3. However, each positive scenario heavily depends on the kind of run he has with the Quetta Gladiators.
Photo by Alessandro Bogliari on Unsplash