Jason Roy responds to Josh Hazlewood criticism as Ashes build-up intensifies

The England opener insists he does have the temperament to open in Test cricket ahead of the series starting on Thursday

England batsman Jason Roy has refused to rise to Australia seamer Josh Hazlewood's assessment that he could struggle at the top of the order during the upcoming Ashes series.

Roy is expected to partner Rory Burns for the first of the five-Test between the two nations starting at Edgbaston on Thursday.

Despite leading England to World Cup glory as an opener, Roy's only Test outing came against Ireland last week when he hit a maiden half-century.

Hazlewood appeared to open the verbal war of words between both teams when he questioned whether the 29-year-old could adapt to the red-ball game in which he has such little experience.

Speaking to Talksport, Roy replied: “It is what it is, they can say what they want. He said Test cricket is hard and he’s right, that’s just stating the obvious. 

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"If he has said that I won’t succeed in Test cricket then that’s a little bit harsh.

“But they’re under a lot of pressure, he’s played a lot of Test cricket and I haven’t, so we’ll see in a few days.”

In all of Roy's 116 international white-ball innings, he has opened the batting but his expansive style is more suited playing down the order at Test level.

But with Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Joe Buttler and Moeen Ali to accommodate in the team, the Surrey man is consigned to a role as the opener.

“I’ve got no preferences at the moment,” he added. “I haven’t opened or batted down the order. I’m just honoured to be in the team at the moment.

“I think the middle order is pretty set and my opportunity has arisen from coming in as an opening batsman, so I’ve just got to take that opportunity and see where I go with it.”