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Roy rates Cardiff ton as his best

England opener says latest century more satisfying than ODI record at the MCG

England's Jason Roy believes he is adding an extra dimension to his game by "knuckling down" at the start of an innings.

The 27-year-old, long known as a brilliant ball-striker, made a polished 120 as England beat world champions Australia by 38 runs to win the second one-day international in Cardiff on Saturday and so take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

England take 2-0 lead despite Marsh ton

Roy struck an England ODI record 180 against Australia in Melbourne in January this year, but rated Saturday's innings the best of his five ODI hundreds after his side were sent into bat in overcast conditions.

That Roy has shown he can score hundreds in different styles will be a boost to England as they seek a maiden World Cup title when staging next year's edition.

"I had a long discussion with [England batting coach Graham Thorpe] just after I got out and said it was probably my favourite innings as far as the tempo of it, the way I knuckled down early," said Roy.

"I went through some difficult patches, but then came out the other side.

"When I wanted to start expanding my game, unfortunately I got out - but I was still happy."

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Early dismissal is an occupational hazard for all openers, and certainly for someone as attack-minded as Roy – as evidenced by his second-ball duck at The Oval in the series-opener.

But Roy was able to play himself in on Saturday while opening partner Jonny Bairstow kept the run rate flowing with a dashing 42 at the other end.

"I was able to knuckle down and get myself in," Roy said. "(Jonny) is great to watch isn't he at the moment? He's in some incredible form."

Roy's latest century came almost a year after he suffered arguably the biggest disappointment of his England career when left out of the same Sophia Gardens ground for a Champions Trophy semi-final loss to Pakistan, the eventual tournament winners.

"It's disappointing to be dropped at any ground," said Roy. "Playing for England is a huge honour.

"I wouldn't say being dropped in that Champions Trophy has anything to do with making any hundred feel any better than the next. It was a big aim of mine to come back after a long winter and start well."

Just prior to this current series, England suffered a shock six-run defeat by Scotland in a stand-alone ODI in Edinburgh.

"Obviously, we had that hiccup against Scotland, and then the first game (of this series) I was a bit panicky, a bit wary of where my game was at," Roy admitted.

"But I've put in a lot of hard work over the last two days, and got a few rewards today."


Qantas tours of the UK and Zimbabwe

ODI squad: Tim Paine (c), Aaron Finch (vc), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye

England ODI squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (injured), David Willey, Chris Woakes (injured), Mark Wood

T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth

Qantas Tour of the UK

June 7: Australia beat Sussex by 57 runs at Hove

June 9: Australia beat Middlesex by 101 runs at Lord's

June 13: England won by three wickets at The Oval

June 16: England won by 38 runs in Cardiff

June 19: Third ODI, Trent Bridge (D/N)

June 21: Fourth ODI, Durham (D/N)

June 24: Fifth ODI, Old Trafford

June 27: Only T20, Edgbaston (D/N)

Qantas T20I tri-series Tour of Zimbabwe

July 1: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

July 2: Pakistan vs Australia

July 3: Australia vs Zimbabwe

July 4: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

July 5: Pakistan vs Australia

July 6: Australia vs Zimbabwe

July 8: Final