England Twenty20 international Jason Roy has signed a three-game contract with the Big Bash League’s Sydney Thunder.

Roy is the overseas replacement player at the Thunder for England’s new one-day captain Eoin Morgan, who plays his final game of his four-match deal against Perth on January 1 before joining the England squad ahead of the ICC World Cup.

The 24-year-old Roy’s first game for the Thunder will be against the Hobart Hurricanes in Sydney on January 9.

The South African-born Roy is relishing the chance to play alongside his childhood idol Jacques Kallis.

“To be able to play alongside him is going to be an amazing experience and I’m looking forward to picking his brain along the way,” he said.

Roy will miss the Thunder’s final group game against Sydney Sixers on January 22 when he joins the England Lions tour of South Africa.