Jason Roy doubtful for rest of T20 World Cup after calf injury against South Africa

James Vince, one of two travelling reserves in the squad, would be Roy’s likely replacement

Roy had made 20 off 15 balls opening the batting alongside Buttler, when he was called through for a single off the first ball of the fifth over. He pulled up almost straight after setting off at the non-striker’s end, hobbling his way through the rest of the run, and also immediately dropped to the ground, throwing his head back in a mix of pain and frustration.

Roy then hobbled off the pitch with support from Tom Curran, one of England’s substitutes for the day, and retired hurt, with Moeen Ali coming in at No. 3. He was later seen covering his hands in despair from the dressing room on the TV broadcast, and was hobbling on a crutch on the boundary edge after South Africa completed a ten-run win.

Roy had earlier clutched the same muscle while fielding, after running around to his right from long-on in the final over of South Africa’s innings in an attempt to prevent a six from Rassie van der Dussen off Chris Jordan.

“He’s unbelievably important. He’s a guy who epitomises everything that we are about in the changing room and the way we play. You see how commanding he is at the top of the order… he’s as close as we get to surmising how the changing room should play. We’re gutted for Jase but also half-hoping that he’s OK. For anyone to miss the latter stages of a tournament – particularly when it’s been too guys in two games – that does hurt the mood [in the dressing room].

“You got through the names that either aren’t here through injury or other reasons: [Jofra] Archer, [Ben] Stokes, Sam Curran, Tymal [Mills] and possibly now Jason. You look back at the times that you’ve really explored and tried to build a squad, and I’m sitting here thankful that we have done that because we’re going to need those guys in the next game and possibly in the final.”