England left pondering batting options for India decider after Jason Roy injury

The opener hurt his right hand while fielding during his team’s 86-run series-levelling win at Lord’s on Saturday

Roy's injury has England sweating over his fitness (AFP/Getty Images)

England’s chances of winning this one-day series decider against India in Leeds were dealt a major blow when it was revealed Jason Roy is almost certain to miss it with a lacerated little finger.

The opener sustained the injury on his right hand when fielding during his team’s 86-run series-levelling win at Lord’s on Saturday and has been given just a “30-70” chance by England of being passed fit for tomorrow’s match.

It means James Vince, only called up to the squad as cover on Sunday, looks set to make his first ODI appearance for his country since October 2016, when he scored 32 in a four-wicket win against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

Vince has scored one half-century, against Sri Lanka in Cardiff also in 2016, in five previous ODIs and looks set to win his sixth cap so long as he sees off the challenge of Sam Billings, who was called up as further batting cover late on Monday when it emerged Roy’s injury was serious.

England face a series decider at Headingley on Tuesday (Getty Images)

Billings’ last ODI came in the chastening defeat against Scotland in Edinburgh last month but he appears behind Vince given the vacant slot would be as an opener and he has been parachuted into the squad at such a late stage.

Vince only found himself with England in Leeds after Dawid Malan, himself an injury replacement for Alex Hales, was commandeered by England Lions for their four-day match against India A that started in Worcester today.

The Hampshire batsman has been picked on solid 50-over form for his county, the 27-year-old hitting 171 in a Royal London One-Day Cup semi-final win against Yorkshire last month before he captained Hampshire to victory in the final against Kent at Lord’s.

This, though, is an unexpected chance for Vince to revive his career after he was dropped from England’s Test plans at the start of this summer following a disappointing winter in Australia and New Zealand.

Roy averages 52 in ODI cricket this summer and his fast starts have been crucial in helping England win seven successive series before this – a run that has taken them to No1 in the world.

Vince looks likeliest to replace Roy (REUTERS)

But Vince’s cavalier style that has proven his Achilles heel in Test cricket is far more suited to the limited-overs format and he has every motivation to do well at Headingley.

This match between the top two sides in the world will go a long way to establishing who will enter next year’s World Cup in England as favourites.

Eoin Morgan’s team, who won their last one-day series decider against New Zealand in Christchurch back in March, will stay at No1 regardless of the result in Leeds but victory would be a huge fillip in what is their final home ODI of the year.

This is indeed England’s biggest match since they lost last year’s Champions Trophy semi-final against Pakistan in Cardiff and Mark Wood believes it will act as a crucial dress rehearsal for the World Cup.

Asked if this match might have an impact on the five-Test series between England and India to come later this summer, the fast bowler said: “I think for the Test-match side of things, it is great to get certain people out or get runs against them but it is more of impact for the World Cup. If we can treat this game as a semi-final, a must win with the pressure on, we can learn what we are doing wrong if we don’t win or what we are doing right if we do. Over the past year we have dealt with these situations well and hopefully we can carry on that trend tomorrow.

Wood says England are fully focused on winning this series (PA)

“We’ve prepared the same [as any other game], it’ll be the same preparation in the morning before the game so I’d imagine it’s pretty much the same feel. It’s just whether or not we can come out on top but I think we have got to treat it that way [as a knockout game] for things to come.”

Victory at Lord’s was a massive confidence boost for England after they were hammered by eight wickets in the first match of the series in Nottingham.

“Every member of the England team will hold their hand up and say they were beaten into the dirt so we knew we had to improve for the second game,” said Wood. “We knew what we needed to address. It was a big performance in that game, a great win. We knew we needed to get better. It was not doom and gloom. We just knew what we needed to get better.”

England will also hope Ben Stokes will improve in this pivotal match given the all-rounder has struggled since returning from a hamstring injury.

Stokes returned for the T20 series decider against India in Bristol earlier this month, but has so far failed to take a wicket in three matches and his only significant score with the bat came last week at Trent Bridge, where he scored England’s slowest 50-over half-century in 13 years.

“I think it’s a chance for Ben to prove how good he is again,” said Wood, his team-mate at Durham. “He doesn’t need to - everyone knows how good a player he is but obviously coming back from a bit of time out he’s probably desperate to do well and be that match-winner again. It takes a bit of time to get your form and your rhythm back so I’m sure the more he plays the better he’ll get.”