Roy signs for Thunder stint

Jason Roy, the Surrey batsman, has signed for a three-match stint with Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League.

He will act as a replacement for Eoin Morgan, the new England one-day captain, who will link up with the national squad when they arrive in Australia early next month for the triangular series in preparation for the World Cup.

Roy, 24, was the leading run-scorer in the 2014 NatWest T20 Blast, stacking up 677 runs at 48.35 with a strike-rate of 157.07. Later in the season he made his England T20 debut against India at Edgbaston.

He will play against Hobart Hurriances, Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Stars during his time in Australia - the last of the three matches bringing a head-to-head with Kevin Pietersen - before leaving to join the England Lions one-day squad on their tour of South Africa.

"The Big Bash is a huge competition for an overseas player to be involved in," Roy said. "I'm looking forward to getting over there and playing in front of the big crowds with an amazing squad.

"Hopefully I can get my name out there and show people what I'm about and help win some games for the Thunder. Growing up in South Africa, I watched Jacques Kallis play a lot. To be able to play alongside him is going to be an amazing experience and I'm looking forward to picking his brain along the way."