Former England pacer Steve Harmison opened up on Jason Roy’s exclusion from the defending champion’s squad for the ICC World Cup 2023 saying that the opener’s career is done.
Roy, who was one of the biggest reasons behind England’s maiden World Cup triumph in 2019 as he amassed 443 runs at an impressive 63.28, was dropped from this year’s mega event squad after initially being named in the provisional squad.
Roy got injured before the World Cup and did not participate in any of England’s pre-tournament One Day International (ODI) against New Zealand and his place was taken by Harry Brook.
Malan scored two half-centuries and a hundred with the 33-year-old on the sidelines and secured his place as the opener alongside Jonny Bairstow in the World Cup while Jason’s place was taken by Brook.
Now, Harmison believes that Roy will no longer play for England and will continue to play the shorter format after, despite being named as a travelling reserve, he refused to travel to India.
"I think Jason's done," Harmison said, speaking exclusively to Mirror Sport. "I think Jason's been a brilliant servant to English cricket. The transition through 2015 and into 2019 and beyond, Jason has not only been an integral part of that he's been one of the main reasons why England have been successful.
"Whenever Jason gets runs at the top of the order England win because he gets them so quickly, he puts the opposition on the back foot and gives England so much momentum. Unfortunately for Jason, his body left him out.
"I think somebody had to be left out [for Harry Brook] and unfortunately it was Jason. Before that it would have been Dawid Malan, but if you get injured and give somebody a chance to take your place… I think Malan did that and deserves to be in.
"Unfortunately, Jason's the one that that misses out. It's unfortunate, but I don't expect Jason to come back. I think his life now is on the road in the franchise world and he deserves to cash in as much as he can because he's had his time in international cricket and he's been a brilliant servant to English cricket," he concluded.
