As England head into their five-match T20 series against India, there aren’t too many places up for grabs, the vast majority of England’s side pulled into shape over the last two years. A decision needs to be made over Moeen Ali, or Sam Curran, at No.7. The final seamer, alongside Jofra Archer and Chris Jordan, isn’t quite nailed down.

Then last of all, the final batting places – an opening spot and perhaps another at first drop – are the subject of a tense and keenly fought battle. Dawid Malan, Sam Billings, Liam Livingstone, Alex Hales, James Vince, Tom Banton, and Roy himself are all in the race. Roy, the incumbent, has suffered something of a slump, and with so many guys breathing down his neck, speculation surrounding his place has grown.

For a moment, let’s put Roy’s international “slump” in context. In 2018, he had one of the great T20I years, averaging 30.11 and scoring at a remarkable 10.2rpo – a strike rate of 169, if you prefer – which is still the fastest any England opener has scored in a calendar year. In 2019, he didn’t play a match; then in 2020 he averaged 24.60, scoring at “just” 8.3rpo. While Roy’s consistency in terms of pure run scoring fell away, he scored quickly enough to cause minimal issues for his side.

Rather than him suffering a straightforward drought, there have been several factors in the criticism mounting around Roy. One, England’s untold riches in white ball batting, which puts inherent pressure on all but the most secure player in their line-up; two, the fact that like his colleague Dawid Malan, Roy’s domestic record was not a patch on his record with England; and three, the fact that this slump was so apparently skewed towards spin.

The last of these was the most damning – but in reality, isn’t quite the case. In the last two years of T20 cricket, Roy has averaged 30 against both pace and spin bowling, and has scored at almost identical rates – in fact, his record against spin (8.0rpo) is actually better than against pace (7.7rpo). Rather than just spin, the issue for Roy has specifically been the ball spinning away from him. Leg spinners, and left-arm orthodox bowlers, have caused him substantial bother.

This isn’t to oversimplify the art of this shot. Selecting the right moment to play it – the right bowler, the right ball, the right field-setting, the right match situation – is as important for success with the stroke as the execution. But given Roy’s overall record against the bowlers taking the ball away from him is not strong, and this unconventional stroke is one which has brought him success, the appeal is obvious.

Given his role in the side, it would be better for Roy to be dismissed playing this stroke, taking the aggressive option early, than simply scrapping to survive. What’s more, the effect of beating backward point, the field changes which may follow it, may even make that survival easier.

It’s ironic in some ways, that the lack of versatility which makes Roy a unique case in this England group, could also be what could keep him in the side. His role is clearer than any other in the team. Focusing on that role and nailing the specific task he’s been given, at the expense of traditional statistics, is his route to security in the side, and to England reaching their full potential as one of the best T20 batting orders in history.