England and New Zealand captains laud ‘outstanding’ Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy partnership

Eoin Morgan heaped praise on ‘outstanding’ opening pair Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy, after their second successive century partnership helped book England’s World Cup semi-final spot.

After putting on 160 for the first wicket in Sunday’s must-win clash with India at Edgbaston, the pair got England off to a flier in Wednesday’s 119-run victory over New Zealand, with an opening stand of 123, as the hosts became the third side to reach the knockout stage.

Bairstow went on to score centuries in both innings, but it is no surprise that his superb form has coincided with Roy’s return from the hamstring injury that ruled him out of three of England’s World Cup fixtures, including the defeats to Australia and Sri Lanka.

Their aggression at the top of the order has revitalised a World Cup campaign that was stuttering just a week ago, to the delight of skipper Morgan.

Bairstow has scored back-to-back World Cup centuries since being reunited with Roy Photo: Action Images via Reuters
Action Images via Reuters

"It is incredible, really, that the talent they possess and actually what they can achieve on a consistent basis," Morgan said.

"The two of them are outstanding. When they play like that and build a partnership, one of the things that sort of that stands out for me that doesn't happen in any normal partnership - it happens in great partnerships - is that both of them ebbed and flowed.

In Pictures | England vs New Zealand, Cricket World Cup | 03/07/2019

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"Jonny got off to a flyer, Jason was quite slow to start and then caught up and Jonny slowed down. It was really brilliant to watch because normally you have two guys competing with each other the whole time trying to get ahead, trying to get the strike, trying to be more dominant, whereas as a partnership they are extremely dominant."

Wednesday’s effort was the tenth time in 31 innings that Bairstow and Roy have put on at least 100 for the first wicket, while their average of 67.70 is the highest of any ODI opening partnership to have played 30 innings together, by more than 15 runs.

New Zealand’s openers, Henry Nicholls and Martin Guptil, were by contrast, dismissed for scores of 0 and 8, and Kiwi captain Kane Williamson joined his opposite number in praising England’s top order lynchpins.

Bairstow and Roy are among the most prolific opening pairs in ODI history
AFP/Getty Images

"They've been awesome getting their team off to a brilliant start,” Williamson said. “Their threats go a long way down their order and that's one of the strengths of the England side, the balance and depth they have in all departments.

"Those guys have been playing beautifully well for a long time. But certainly, in this tournament, as well, under different sorts of pressure, so a big weapon for them at the top of the order."

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