vacant and if its me, thats great, butt if its not Ill support whoever gets the job.ddddddddddddZiebell will take over with his club in a transitional phase after the departures of popular veter

England one-day opener Jason Roy has gone from surf to turf.Growing up in South Africa, the now 25-year-old spent much of his time boarding on the waves but he will return to his birth country as an electrifying top-order batsman hoping to help England build on an ODI series win over Pakistan and the recent Test triumph over the Proteas.Roy, speaking on behalf of Slazenger cricket, told Sky Sports about his early years in Africa, how golf has kept him in nick over the winter, and THAT Ben Stokes innings in Cape Town.Plus, the swashbuckling Surrey star revealed why he will have plenty of support for the five ODIs and two T20Is against South Africa, games you can watch exclusively live on Sky Sports...Did you play much cricket as a kid?JASON ROY: Not much at all. I used to spend a lot of time down at the beach surfing, as well as playing rugby and messing about on my grandparents farm. Cricket only really became a big thing for me when I came over to England at around the age of nine.Who were your early cricketing heroes?JR: Definitely Brian Lara, Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting, while among the current generation, I looked up to Hashim Amla, Kevin Pietersen and Kumar Sangakkara, all of whom Ive been lucky enough to share a dressing room with at Surrey. Its been great to learn from those guys. I didnt really understand cricket as a kid and just tried to hit every ball out of the park. You could argue whats changed?, but I would like to think I am a little bit more controlled these days! Jason Roy You scored your first ODI hundred for England in the UAE before Christmas. How have you kept in nick since?JR: I had a few weeks off afterwards relaxing with friends and family, which was really nice as my first overseas tour with England was really intense. Since then, it has been pretty much every day training with Surrey, netting for a half a day and gyming it the rest of the time.Judging by your Twitter and Instagram, youve also been dusting off the golf clubs…JR: Ive squeezed in a couple of rounds! I absolutely love it, Ive got the bug and it gives me such a buzz. My mates reckon I have the potential to be really good, but I try not to think about technical aspects too much and just try to whack it. I dont think Im as good as KP yet, though, as he plays so much. Jason Roy and Kevin Pietersen (pictured) are occasional golfing buddies Are there any crossover skills between cricket and golf?JR: Obviously watching the ball is key in both sports but I sometimes find it easier hitting a moving cricket ball than a static golf ball. I suppose golf hopes me transfer my weight through the ball in cricket and vice versa.How much are you looking forward to getting back in the England camp, especially after the successful Test series against South Africa?JR: Being involved with England over the last year or so, you get a real appreciation of how hard the guys work, how much time and effort they have put into their games individually. It is great to see people like Rooty [Joe Root], a class act wherever he goes, and Stokesy [Ben Stokes] reaping the benefits of that. Watch Ben Stokes score the second fastest double century in history on day two of the second Test against South Africa What did you make of Stokes 258 in Cape Town? Did you see it?JR: It was amazing. I woke up to hear about it on Twitter and thought: He hasnt, has he? He just went berserk and impressed the world with his skill and power. Id seen him do it before, though, when he hit 15 sixes in a score of 151 not out for England Lions against South Africa A in a one-day game last year. I got 67, but he outdid me!It seems from the outside that there is a no-fear culture in the England dressing room. Is that how you see it?JR: There is a huge sense of freedom, with the way everyone chats to each other and the team talks we have. Its such a comfortable dressing room to be part of, and its like we have been working with each other for 20 years. I think that shows with some of the innings and shots we produce on the cricket field. When he does talk to you, he is extremely constructive but if he has nothing to say, hell keep quiet. Jason Roy on Trevor Bayliss What is Trevor Bayliss like to work with?JR: He is brilliantly honest. When he does talk to you, he is extremely constructive but if he has nothing to say, hell keep quiet. Him and Farby [Paul Farbrace] work so well together - theyll offer advice if you make a mistake in the nets but tell you that its up to you when you are out in the middle. They love the work hard ethos and players trying to make themselves better.Finally, will the Roy clan be out in force during the ODIs and T20Is?JR: My old man lives in England but he is flying out and will be coming to pretty much all the games. My mother will as well, as she lives in South Africa now. My aunt lives in Johannesburg and Ive got relatives in Durban so Im sure theyll make a pit-stop for one or two games.Jason Roy will be using the Slazenger V800 bat in the upcoming ODI and T20I series against South Africa, available to pre-order in March. For more information and to view the full Slazenger Cricket range, head to www.slazenger.com/cricketWatch Englands five-match ODI series and two-match T20I series, live on Sky Sports 2, starting with the first ODI, in Bloemfontein, from 11am on Wednesday.Also See:WATCH: Will England win ODIs?England fixtures/resultsGet Sky SportsLive cricket on SkyFake USA Soccer Jerseys . The home side created most of the chances but struggled to break down Braunschweigs resilient defence, resulting in the Bundesligas 1,000th scoreless draw. Stitched USA Soccer Jerseys . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. https://www.cheapusasoccer.com/ . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. USA Soccer Store . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. USA Soccer Shirts . -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year.North Melbourne star Jack Ziebell says hes ready, willing and able to be the next captain of the Kangaroos.The 25-year-old has long been viewed as the heir apparent for the top job that was vacated by Andrew Swallow in October.Norths players will vote on the next captain and coach Brad Scott will also have input into a decision that is expected to come sooner in the pre-season rather than later.Ziebell told reporters on Friday that hes taking nothing for granted, but it would be a huge shock if he didnt take over the job hes long been groomed for.Obviously Ive thought about it a little bit and its something that Ive aspired to do, Ziebell said from the launch of the clubs new logo.But Ive said publicly before that if I was to captain or I wasnt to captain it probably wouldnt change much of my actions and the way I go about my football.Im about trying to help my teammates improve, as well as myself, and drive this footy club to, hopefully, its next premiership.I dont expect anything, but obviously with Andrew stepping down ... theres a position vacant and if its me, thats great, butt if its not Ill support whoever gets the job.ddddddddddddZiebell will take over with his club in a transitional phase after the departures of popular veterans Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Nick Dal Santo and Michael Firrito.The tough midfielder denied the shock cull on the eve of the finals was a factor in their emphatic elimination final exit at the hands of Adelaide.But he conceded the departure of the quartet has ushered in a new era at Arden Street.I think its really exciting. Obviously we farewelled a few of our champions, which was sad, but we understand thats what happens in football, he said.Its tough. They probably all had cases to play on next year, but we all know how football works. Ill back Brads decisions. He had to make tough calls for the footy club.(But) weve got a lot of young guys ready to take their opportunities. We all know what youth brings and thats excitement.Were super excited about 2017 and what it might bring for our footy club. ' ' '