No Archer but he’s still on radar

SELECTORS’ CHIEF: ALL 17 IN WARMUPS CAN STAKE CLAIM

ngland have not picked uncapped all-rounder Jofra Archer in a preliminary 15-man World Cup squad but have named him in squads for the warm-up games against Pakistan and Ireland.

Barbados-born Archer, who shone for Sussex last season and in Australia’s Big Bash Twenty20 competition for Hobart Hurricanes, is eligible for national selection under new England and Wales Cricket Board residency rules.

The 24-year-old could get a World Cup call-up if he impresses as changes can be made to the squad until May 23, seven days before their tournament opener against South Africa at The Oval.

Joe Denly, whose last ODI appearance came in October 2009, retained his place in the World Cup group as a back-up spinning all-rounder.

He could, though, be among the pool of players, including Liam Plunkett and Tom Curran, who will feel the pressure if Archer performs well.

Archer’s ability to bowl at more than 145km/h and his lower-order power-hitting skills have earned him several high-profile admirers, including England regulars Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler.

“The selection panel has been impressed with Jofra Archer’s performances in domestic and franchise cricket. He is a very talented and exciting cricketer,” national selector Ed Smith said.

England play Ireland in a one-dayer on May 3 before a fivematch ODI series and a Twenty20 against Pakistan.

“In line with ICC (International Cricket Council regulations, we have to name a preliminary squad of 15 for the World Cup before April 23,” Smith added.

“However, all 17 players named in the ODIs against Pakistan can stake a claim to be in the final 15man squad, finalised at the end of that series.”

Fast bowler Chris Jordan, Archer’s Sussex team-mate, could also make a comeback to the ODI squad against Pakistan, despite playing his last 50-overs game for England in September 2016.

“Chris Jordan, a regular in IT20 squads over the past few years, has continued to develop as a cricketer – as we saw in the IT20s in the West Indies. He fully deserves his return to the ODI squad,” Smith said. –

Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.