England's Roy targets Australia match for World Cup return

Jason Roy is targeting England's match against arch-rivals Australia for a World Cup return.

MANCHESTER (AFP) - Jason Roy is targeting England s match against arch-rivals Australia for a World Cup return after being sidelined with a torn hamstring.

The in-form opening batsman has been ruled out of England s match against Afghanistan at Old Trafford on Tuesday and their pool encounter with Sri Lanka at Headingley on Friday.

Roy tore his left hamstring in the field during England s eight-wicket win over the West Indies last week and did not bat, with Joe Root, who made a century, promoted to open alongside Jonny Bairstow instead.

But having suffered a similar injury during England s tour of the Caribbean earlier this year and with the World Cup featuring a long pool phase that sees all 10 teams play each other ahead of the semi-finals, the 28-year-ol Roy is confident of returning to action.

"I did it in the West Indies and it was a lot worse," Roy told Sky Sports. "It could be way worse -- the scan told me it s minimum 10 days. We ve got to assess it as we go along."

"It s a huge understatement being frustrated, but I ve got to keep smiling," the Surrey star added.

Roy hit a fifty in England s opening win over South Africa and then struck a commanding 153 in the host nation s victory over Bangladesh.

But he fell for just eight during England s surprise 14-run defeat to Pakistan at Trent Bridge.

Now he hopes to face reigning champions Australia at Lord s on June 25.

"We re targeting Australia but we ll see how this week goes," said Roy, whose opening partnership with Bairstow has been a key factor in England s rise to the top of the one-day international rankings and their status as favourites to win the World Cup.

"If this week goes to plan, then Australia. If not, then who knows. Hamstrings are such a grey area."

England captain Eoin Morgan, who suffered a back spasm during the West Indies match but recovered to face Afghanistan, was in no doubt about Roy s importance to his side.

"I certainly believe Jason will play again in this tournament," Morgan told a pre-match press conference at Old Trafford on Monday. "He s out of the next two games, so we ll see how he pulls up after that."

Morgan said England had not yet discussed who should replace Roy if a permanent replacement were needed, adding: "He s obviously a huge part of what we ve been doing. He s in the best form of his life, so he s very important."