Former skipper Mike Gatting has backed opener Jason Roy’s explosive batting at the top of the order to lead Eoin Morgan’s England to glory at this summer’s ICC Cricket World Cup.   

Roy and No.3 Joe Root scored both scored centuries as England completed their highest ever one-day run-chase against the West Indies last month.

Roy scored 123 off 85 balls and Root 102 off 97 as England cantered to their 361-run target with eight balls to spare in Barbados.

Gatting has been particularly impressed with the impetus Roy offers England at the top of the order, meaning no total is ever out of reach for Morgan’s men.

He also highlighted the strength in depth in England’s batting line-up and believes weight of runs will deliver silverware this summer.

England have won never the men's World Cup - but have lost in three finals, in 1979, 1987 and 1991. However, when the event was last played on home soil, in 1999, they didn't get out the group stages. 

“Jason Roy is one people should be looking at,” said Gatting, who was speaking at the announcement that Lord's Taverners have been selected by the International Cricket Council as an official ‘Cricket 4 Good Partner’ at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup this summer.

“If you look it’s going to go something like Roy, (Jonny) Bairstow, Root, Morgan, (Ben) Stokes, (Jos) Buttler and Moeen Ali – it’s just phenomenal when you look what we’ve got there.

“Even Chris Woakes, coming in at number eight, is not the worst batter. It’s exciting, it really is and I’m very intrigued to see how it all works out. I’m looking forward to it enormously and particularly watching Jason Roy.

“It’s quite incredible and it’s something which makes you think crikey anybody can hurt you in that batting line-up.

“In a competition like this it means everybody has got to play a part at some stage. If someone puts their hand up in every game, then England could be in contention.

“We are probably as strong as we have ever been. Especially with the new permutations we have. I have not seen, even with the great West Indies team of the time, seven or eight batters who could harm somebody quite badly.

“We are very blessed to have them now. Provided they can play well we have a very good chance. Certainly, it’s about getting runs on the board and putting our opposition under pressure.

“The first seven or eight are very capable of destroying an attack at any stage. It’s nice to watch and hopefully an England team who can make it through to the final stages.”

And Gatting is convinced England's new fearless approach to one day cricket is the very reason they will be in contention to lift the World Cup – a score of 300 or even 400 not daunting for this batting line-up.

“If someone gets 300 the guys would not bat an eyelid,” added Gatting, who captained England in their final defeat to Australia in Kolkata 32 years ago.

“That’s what they set as their minimum, where in my days we set 250 and thought it was a great score. Now with 300 your only okay, you’ve got to get 350 or 370.

“As we have seen in the West Indies where they got a very decent score. We are all aware with the way people play these days 300 is only par.”

The Lord’s Taverners is the leading youth cricket and disability sports charity in the UK, delivering several national programmes including Table Cricket, Super 1s and Wicketz, which improve the prospects of thousands of disadvantaged and disabled young people through sport and recreation.

“Lord Taverners gives disadvantaged children and disabled children a chance to play sport,” he said. “Mainly we give people the ability to play cricket and do what people like myself have been able to do.

“We give them a sporting chance to do what they would love to do. It helps children in many life aspects whether its confidence mixing with cultures, becoming a leader or learning to mix with people or a bit of discipline. 

“We build their confidence, help them become better people and learning what life is about. I would always urge someone to give something to Lord’s Taverners because it gives kids such a great chance in life and it’s improving all the time.”

  • The Lord’s Taverners, the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity, is an official ‘Cricket 4 Good Partner’ at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, celebrating the scale, reach and diversity of the charity’s programmes. For more information visit www.lordstaverners.org