England call up Jason Roy for T20

NOTTINGHAM: Uncapped South African-born batsman Jason Roy was included in the 14-man England squad announced Sunday for next weekend´s one-off Twenty20 international against India at Edgbaston.

The 24-year-old rising star was selected after topping the run-charts in this season´s domestic T20 competition with 677 runs at an average of 48.35 and a strike rate of nearly 160.

The Surrey batsman was joined in the squad for next Sunday´s match at Edgbaston by three other players not yet involved in the ongoing one-day series with India.

All-rounder Ravi Bopara, surprisingly omitted from the ODI squad, was included with experienced Yorkshire seamer Tim Bresnan and Nottinghamshire batsman James Taylor also selected.

Eoin Morgan will captain England in the injury-enforced absence of regular T20 skipper Stuart Broad who is about to undergo knee surgery.
Former Ireland batsman Morgan also led England in their previous T20 international, a nine-run defeat by Sri Lanka at The Oval in May.
Michael Carberry and Ian Bell, who played in that match, have both been dropped in favour of Roy and Taylor.

Taylor has not played for England since their ODI win over Ireland in Dublin in September last year with double Ashes-winner Bresnan´s most recent international appearance the humiliating defeat by the Netherlands at the World Twenty20 in Chittagong five months ago.

England national selector James Whittaker said: "This one-off Twenty20 provides us with an opportunity to look at players who have impressed recently in domestic cricket and gives them a chance to test themselves on the international stage against high-quality opposition.

Taylor´s availability will depend upon Nottinghamshire´s One-Day Cup semi-final away to Durham on Saturday, September 6, being completed without the need for a reserve day.

India lead the five-match ODI series 2-0 after their six-wicket win at Trent Bridge on Saturday. The ODI campaign continues at Edgbaston on Tuesday before finishing at Headingley on Friday.

England T20 squad to play India at Edgbaston on Sunday, September 7: Eoin Morgan (Middlesex, capt), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Ravi Bopara (Essex), Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire, wkt), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Harry Gurney (Nottinghamshire), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), James Taylor (Nottinghamshire), James Tredwell (Kent), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
(AFP)