Archer fear on English switch

A CHANGE in English cricket’s eligibility laws could cost the Hobart Hurricanes prized import Jofra Archer in the finals — should they make it.

Having played under-19s cricket for the West Indies, Archer had to wait seven years to be eligible for England despite having a British father and passport. But this has been reduced to three years, meaning Archer, 23, will be eligible come January 1, and England has a Test and one-day tour of the West Indies in January and February.

Cricket Tasmania chief executive Nick Cummins said a lot would have to go wrong for the Hurricanes to lose Archer — a nobody before lighting up the competition with his pace, accuracy and athleticism in last year’s Big Bash — but it was a possibility.

“My view is if he gets picked for England, then he’s playing well for us, and he’s playing well for us and gets us into the finals, then that’s a good problem to have,” Cummins said.

Archer tweeted overnight once the changes were announced: “It may or may not happen but I would love to debut in front of my family.”

Archer was propelled on to the world stage after starring for the Hurricanes with 16 wickets (the second most in the league) before being snapped up in the Indian Premier League for $1.4 million by the Rajasthan Royals.

Cummins said a Test callup would be doubtful for the right-arm express quick, but a one-day selection was a strong possibility.

England’s first one-dayer against the West Indies is on February 21, with the BBL semi-finals on February 14 and 15 and the final on February 17.

“He would need to be picked for England’s one-day team, they would then want to have them in the West Indies at least a week before that and we would need to be in the finals,” Cummins said. “But if all of those things happened then yes it could impact us.”

The Hurricanes are also on the hunt for a new general manager for the following season after current GM, Phil Rigby, announced he would be returning to Queensland after this summer.