Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has publicly questioned the ability of England opener Jason Roy in Test-match cricket.

Roy has been named in the hosts’ squad for the first Ashes Test, which will start at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Thursday.

The hard-hitting right-hander has a superb record in ODI competition, including a century and four half-tons at the recent World Cup, but is relatively untested in the longest format of the international game. He made five and 72 on Test-match debut against Ireland at Lord’s last week.

‘We’ll see how Roy goes in Test cricket. He’s has only played one Test match and it’s a lot different opening the batting in a Test than a one-day game, that’s for sure. In England, opening is probably the toughest place to bat. To play attacking cricket in those conditions is tough,’ said Hazlewood.

Hazlewood drew comparison to Australian ODI captain Aaron Finch’s inclusion in the Test XI. Finch averages over 40 runs in ODI competition, but under 28 in Tests.

‘Finch found it tough last summer against a quality India attack on wickets that didn’t do too much, to be honest. I think he found it a big step up, to be honest. He found the ball swung and seamed around and the wickets were a lot different to a one-day wicket,’ he added.

‘He’d played a lot of his four-day cricket at five or six and I think Roy is the same at Surrey. It’s hard to bat five at a level below and then open in Test cricket. We’ll see.’

Photo: Getty Images