NOTTINGHAM: Uncapped South Africa-born batsman Jason Roy insisted he would be fit after suffering an injury scare on Sunday, hours after being included in England’s 14-man squad for next weekend’s Twenty20 International against India at Edgbaston.

The 24-year-old rising star was hit on the hand while batting for Surrey against New Zealand ‘A’ at The Oval and had to be taken to hospital, although an X-ray revealed that he had not broken any bones.

“I tried to bat on for a bit, but then got a bit worried about it,” Roy told Surrey’s website. “So I went for an X-ray to make sure I got peace of mind. It should be absolutely fine in a couple of days. A bit of ice [treatment] and rest, and it should be sweet.”

Roy was selected for the one-off Twenty20 game against India after topping the run-charts in this season’s domestic competition with 677 runs at an average of 48.35 and a strike rate of nearly 160.

“This is a huge opportunity for me,” said Roy, who came to England as a 10-year-old. “It’s a dream of mine since I was a pup. I hope I can get a few runs and win a game for them.”

There was concerning news for England when it emerged that experienced seamer Tim Bresnan had sat out Lancashire’s match against Yorkshire at Old Trafford due to a pectoral injury.

However, British media reports suggested Bresnan was not seriously injured and had missed the Roses match as a precaution.

Roy and Bresnan were two of only four players named in England’s squad who are not currently involved in the ongoing one-day series with India, with all-rounder Ravi Bopara and Nottinghamshire batsman James Taylor the others.

Eoin Morgan will captain England in the injury-enforced absence of regular T20 skipper Stuart Broad, who is about to undergo knee surgery.

Former Ireland batsman Morgan also led England in their previous T20 International, a nine-run defeat by Sri Lanka at The Oval in May.

Michael Carberry and Ian Bell, who played in that match, have both been dropped in favour of Roy and Taylor.

Taylor has not played for England since their ODI win over Ireland in Dublin in September last year, with double Ashes-winner Bresnan’s most recent international appearance the humiliating defeat by the Netherlands at the World Twenty20 in Chittagong five months ago.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd , 2014