“They are strict about picking younger players” - World Cup-winning opener’s blunt take on not being picked for England

Out-of-favor England opener Jason Roy has opened up on no longer being considered for national duty, saying the selectors are keen on picking younger players. The right-handed batter said it's been a bitter pill to swallow but is content with his current lifestyle.

One of the most instrumental players in England's white-ball reset following their 2015 World Cup debacle, Roy hasn't donned the national colors since 2023. The South Africa-born cricketer's ODI record is particularly strong, having scored 4271 runs in 116 games at 39.91, including 12 centuries. He was also integral to the Englishmen lifting the 50-over World Cup at home in 2019.

When asked whether he regretted not being part of England's 2025 Champions Trophy plans, Roy denied it but added that he was aware of his capabilities at the highest level. The explosive opener told The Daily Star:

"There is no regret. This is not my decision. I would love to still be there. In my head, obviously I feel I can still perform incredibly well at that level, especially in the 50-over stuff. But they are strict about picking younger players and that's completely fair."

"So it's been difficult to take. Obviously the last few years have been hard to get over. It's a bit of a heartbreak you know, like losing a nice girlfriend or something like that. It's been tough to get over the heartbreak but I'm really enjoying my lifestyle now," he added.

The 34-year-old's form hasn't been strong in the recent franchise tournaments either. The 2024 edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) saw him manage only 195 runs in eight matches at 24.37 for the Trinbago Knight Riders. In the two matches he has played in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) so far, the veteran has scored only 19 runs.

"England win and that's easy" - Jason Roy on Champions Trophy 2025 winners

Jason Roy. (Image Credits: Getty)

When asked who would be the title winners in the upcoming Champions Trophy edition, Roy backed the Englishmen to go all the way. However, he believes it will be a massively competitive tournament. In the same interview, he said:

"England win and that's easy (laughs). Who knows? Actually I have no idea what's going on. There are lots of international teams playing incredible cricket. It's hard for me to put finger on a team as all teams have some incredible players. So if they can fire, it's going to be a great tournament."

The 2025 Champions Trophy begins on February 19.