‘I was in weird place’ – Jason Roy credits ‘normal life’ for England ODI heroics

Jason Roy revealed he went through a “dark time” over the winter and believes a couple of months of normal family life played a key role in his latest star turn for England.

Roy marked his 100th one-day international with a typically assertive 73 from 60 balls as England moved into an unassailable 2-0 series lead against the Netherlands after a six-wicket victory on Sunday.

It came just three months after Roy was given a suspended two-match ban and fined by the Cricket Discipline Commission, the reasons for which were not disclosed by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

He did not shed any light on what led to his punishment but admitted he endured a turbulent start to the year, despondent at having to be apart from his son, born in January, for the Pakistan Super League.

Worn out by coronavirus bubbles, Roy withdrew from the Indian Premier League and took a “short indefinite break” from cricket but believes some time with his family reinvigorated him.

“Things mentally weren’t right with me at the PSL,” he said. “I was in a weird place because I was playing good cricket but I wasn’t enjoying myself, I wasn’t happy and it was just a dark time.

“It was just a good two months to come home and live a normal life for a bit after a tough couple of years.

“(There were) a lot of months away. Over 50 days of hotel quarantine the year before and then having a child in January and having to spend time away from him was just a bit too much.”

Roy’s first 50-over innings for England ended in a first-ball duck in 2015 but set in motion a sequence of events that ended with them memorably being crowned world champions four years later.

Even now, Roy is the linchpin opening batter responsible for setting the tempo at the start of the