Jason Roy set to make red-ball comeback for Surrey

Jason Roy, England's World Cup-winning opener, is set to make a surprise return to red-ball cricket after being named in Surrey's squad for their County Championship match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston, starting May 9, 2025. This marks Roy's first appearance in first-class cricket since August 2020, when he played in the Bob Willis Trophy against Hampshire. In that match, he scored 4 and 14, which was his only red-ball outing since his brief Test stint in 2019. During that period, he played five Tests, averaging 18.70, and was dropped after a challenging Ashes series. Roy's return comes as Surrey seeks to fill gaps left by ECB-contracted players Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith, and Gus Atkinson, who are rested ahead of England's upcoming Test against Zimbabwe. Additionally, Roy's limited opportunities in recent T20 franchise leagues, including going unsold in the 2024 and 2025 Hundred auctions and missing the IPL after multiple withdrawals, may have influenced his decision to re-engage with the longer format. Surrey currently sits third in the Division One table, aiming to build on their recent victory over Somerset. The squad for the Warwickshire match also includes Nathan Smith, Kurtis Patterson, and Tom Lawes. The match will be broadcast live on Warwickshire's YouTube channel, with updates and highlights available through Surrey Cricket's social media platforms.