Champions Trophy: England's Jason Roy set to be dropped for Pakistan semi-final

England opener Jason RoyImage source, PA
Image caption,

Jason Roy scored only 18 runs in England's three Champions Trophy group games

England v Pakistan, ICC Champions Trophy semi-final

Venue: Cardiff Date: 14 June Start time: 10:30 BST

Coverage: Test Match Special commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, Radio 4 LW, online, tablets, mobiles and BBC Sport app. Live text commentary and in-play video highlights on the BBC Sport website. Highlights on BBC Two at 23:15 BST

England are set to drop opener Jason Roy for Wednesday's Champions Trophy semi-final against Pakistan in Cardiff.

Roy, 26, has made only 51 runs in his past eight one-day internationals.

BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew said Roy did not bat with the rest of the team in Tuesday's net session, with Jonny Bairstow - his likely replacement - in first.

Roy received the backing of captain Eoin Morgan before Saturday's win over Australia, when he fell second ball.

He has made 1,462 runs at an average of 34 in 46 ODIs.

'Bairstow a fine batsman; Roy will come again'

England cannot name their team until the day of the match for anti-corruption reasons, but Morgan said Yorkshire's Bairstow would be a capable replacement for Roy.

Barstow, 27, has played 26 ODIs, scoring 647 runs at an average of 38.05. This year he has made three half-centuries in four one-day innings for England.

Morgan told BBC Sport: "Jonny Bairstow is our next man in line. He is a very fine batsman. One thing he does exceptionally well is deal with no baggage.

"He comes in and wants to prove everyone wrong the whole time. It's been a huge attribute in him scoring runs when he has had a chance.

"Everyone goes through a bad run and that's expected. If someone happens to miss out then they're not going to be too far away from our plans in the future.

"We have reasonably strong plans for 15 or 17 guys who we believe can take part in the 2019 World Cup and we are sticking to that plan."

Media caption,

Jonny Bairstow 'no baggage' - England captain Eoin Morgan

'England right to drop Roy' - analysis

BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew: "Roy was making bad choices and not giving himself the chance to score runs.

"Against Bangladesh he played a pre-meditated sweep and was caught at short fine leg. Against New Zealand he moved too far across his stumps and was bowled.

"So, even though England are entering the semi-final of a major tournament, it seems right that a change is made."

'We have won nothing'

Pre-tournament favourites England, who have never won a global 50-over tournament, are the only side with a 100% record from their three group games.

They beat Bangladesh and New Zealand by convincing margins to book their place in the last four, and overcame an early batting collapse to overcome Australia in a rain-affected match.

"You've got to play as if everything is on the line - that's the nature of this tournament," Morgan said.

"The important thing to reflect on is that we have actually won nothing and achieved nothing so far. Tomorrow is a very big game for us."

Pakistan 'strong and unpredictable'

Pakistan began the tournament with a one-sided loss to rivals India, before dominating South Africa, the world's number one-ranked team, and beating Sri Lanka in Monday's virtual quarter-final at Cardiff.

They restricted Sri Lanka to 236 with an impressive bowling performance, but collapsed to 162-7 in reply before Sarfraz's unbeaten 61 took them to a three-wicket win.

Morgan said: "They are a strong side and an unpredictable side, which makes it difficult."

England have won 12 of the past 14 ODIs against Pakistan, dating back to 2010, including a 4-1 series win on home soil last summer.

However, Pakistan chased 303 to win by four wickets at Cardiff in the last match of that series.

"England are playing unbelievably well," said Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur. "They are a very good one-day unit with no apparent weaknesses.

"We need to play our best game and, if we do, then we can put them under pressure at different points in the game."

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