“I hope to play for England for many more years, that remains my priority,” Roy wrote in a statement. “It benefits me as an England player to play as much competitive cricket as possible. Just to be clear, my priority is England cricket, especially with a World Cup soon upon us.”
Los Angeles Knight Riders share ownership with Kolkata Knight Riders, the Indian Premier League franchise for whom Roy played this season. Though the MLC schedule has not yet been released he could play as many games for their teams this year as he will for Surrey, which would represent a significant step on the much-discussed path towards year-round franchise contracts.
His county, however, expect to retain his primary allegiance and if they qualify for the Blast’s finals day, which will be played two days after the start of the MLC on 15 July, his departure would be delayed. The MLC Twenty20 competition is due to end on 30 July, two days before the start of the Hundred and three before Roy would be due at Lord’s to play his first game for Oval Invincibles.
No England-qualified player can play in a foreign league without being issued with a no-objection certificate by the ECB, and after what Roy described as “clear and supportive conversations” with the governing body it was happy to oblige. In a statement the ECB said it did so “on the proviso that he gives up the remainder of his incremental contract”, and that it has “absolute confidence and faith that Jason is committed to England cricket”.
