England opener Jason Roy has insisted on Friday (October 12) that he is completely ready to play the spin attack with the new ball in Sri Lanka during the ongoing One Day International series here.
However, Sri Lanka did not field spinners–their tried-and-tested mode of attack for a long time whenever they play England, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, to open the innings in the abandoned ODI series opener in Dambulla, as opening the bowling with a spinner often offers success to the Islanders while it is the weakest point of the above-mentioned teams in the sub-continent.
So far in the ODI, Roy averages better while playing in the sub-continent –a mammoth 65.25 against seamers in Asia than 35.20 against spinners on the continent, but he failed to counter the Lankan spin attack in the first ODI, dismissing by off-spinner Akila Dananjaya after failing to read his offbreak.
However, the right-hander said he would be unfazed if Sri Lanka began targeting him with spin early in the innings in the abandoned ODI, and even is ready to face the spin test in the remainder of the series.
He told reporters ahead of second ODI on Saturday, October 13, “It is something we have been working on in the nets - the first thing I face is spin so I am ready for whatever they throw at me to be honest. It's not anything new. Other teams have tried to do that in the past, it's the way they game is.
The 28-year-old further added, “I’m not really surprised they didn’t [open with spin]. In the Powerplay, bowling spin is quite a risky thing. I know I got out to a spinner in the Powerplay but it's a pretty risky technique, especially if the ball might be swinging a touch for the seamers.”
Aiming to bat as long as he can in Sri Lanka and learn different techniques during the ODI series, said the opener when he was asked about his goals for the Lanka series.
Roy signed off by saying, “Just batting as long as possible and learning different techniques. Before, in the subcontinent, I have got 70, 80 and 90 and got out, so getting some scores in the subcontinent will put me in good stead for the next few years.”
(Input: ESPNCricinfo)
