England skipper Eoin Morgan has confirmed the nature of Jason Roy’s injury that he picked up in the team’s last Super 12 game against South Africa. Roy was running for a comfortable single when he picked up the injury and hobbled back off the ground taking help from the team physio and his teammates Tom Curran.
Morgan confirmed it was calf injury but ruled out making any assumptions about the extent of it and his possible return to full fitness. He said that Roy will be sent to scans before making any assessment and while England will be hoping to get him back for the big games ahead, he won’t be rushed back and risked with the injury.
"It's his calf. It obviously didn't look great. And we'll wait until tomorrow to see what his movement is like. Probably send him for a scan and then go from there. Apart from that, can't tell you much."
"It's difficult to assume. Obviously, we're all hopeful that he comes through in some manner or there's some remedy to get him through one, if not two games. But we need to do what's best for Jason ultimately and then the team," Morgan added.
Roy was very emotional while the physio was trying to get him up on his feet and he was seen in tears while sitting in the dugout. He could well be ruled out of the remainder of the tournament and a sheer disappointment was written all over his face.
Morgan hailed Roy as an “unbelievably important” part of England white-ball sides that have gone on to become ODI World Cup champions two years back. He said that Roy has been phenomenal with the bat and sets the tone for how all England batsmen should bat at the top of the order although he has different set of partners at the top of the order.
"He's unbelievably important," Morgan said. “He's a guy that epitomises everything that we are about in the changing room and the way that we play. You see how commanding he is at the top of the order, not only in T20 cricket but 50-over cricket as well. Obviously two different partners in the two formats. But yeah, he's as close as we get to surmising how the changing room should play," he further added.
England suffered their first defeat of the tournament against South Africa but their dominant performances in the first part of the tournament made sure they were well within the reach of qualifying for semi-finals. They will now wait to see who among India, Afghanistan and New Zealand will be their next opponent in the semi-final.