Ashes 2019: Trevor Bayliss Backs Jason Roy at the Top Order in Third Test

In the ongoing Ashes, Australia have won the first Test whereas England bounced back pretty well and the second Test ended in a tie. Although England performed well on the back of debutant Jofra Archer‘s fiery spell, a century of Ben Stokes and their key bowler Stuart Broad, opener Jason Roy has been struggling with the bat. However, the team management has backed him well and named the unchanged squad for the third AshesTest, starting from August 22.

Although Trevor Bayliss said some changes might come in the batting, that wouldn’t be much. He also believed that he has the best team right now in his hand. “We think we’ve got the best seven batters available to us at the moment,” Bayliss told on Tuesday (August 20). “There’ll be still some conversations to have. Now that we’ve arrived here in Leeds, that’ll be a conversation we’ll have I’m sure.”

In the opening, Jason Roy’s poor form creates pressure on the other opener, Rory Burns who has been scoring well. “Just because they’re not scoring runs, doesn’t mean it’s not the right or wrong spot for them.”

Jason Roy’s three-match Test career has been seen him as an opening batsman, despite not being a regular member in that role in first-class cricket. However, he backed Jason Roy in his position, saying, “Personally, I think he probably is suited to the middle order,” said Bayliss. “But we’ve selected him in the top of the order because of his form in the one-day and experience in the one-day team, playing international cricket.

“At the start of his one-day career, he missed out a few times as well and it took him a little while to get the hang of it. So the possibility of him playing again at the top of the order doesn’t really concern us. We know what he can do when he does play well. Obviously from his point of view, you’d have to ask him exactly how he’s feeling but it’s obviously not quite the same as opening the batting in a white ball game,” added the coach.

On the other hand, Steve Smith’s absence from the third Test will certainly affect his side when the top order is not in sync. Even there were questions on Chris Woakes’ availability also.

“There’s nothing wrong with Woakesy,” confirmed the coach, Bayliss. “He’s had a long summer through the one-dayers and now Test cricket. It’s one area that we’ve tried to keep an eye on with Woakesy in the past. It’ll be a decision we have to make leading into this Test match. Do we give him a break? Do we keep going with him? He’s certainly bowled quite well while everything’s been going on at the other end.”