Archer in England’s sights as selectors target World Cup probables
England 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 (ECB) residency rules.
The 24-year-old could get a World Cup call-up if he impresses in the warm-up games as changes can be made to the squad until May 23, seven days before their tournament opener against South Africa at The Oval.
Also in the mix outside of the provisional 15 is Chris Jordan, 30, another Barbados-born Sussex player. The ECB has asked all players to be in the country on or before April 26.
Joe Denly, whose last ODI appearance came in October 2009, retained his place in the World Cup group as a backup spinning all-rounder.
Although he could be among the pool of players, including Liam Plunkett and Tom Curran, who will feel the pressure if Archer performs well over the next few weeks.
Archer’s ability to bowl at more than 144 kilometres per hour and his lower-order power-hitting skills have earned 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 five-match 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 ICC Men’s Cricket 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 15-man squad, finalised at the end of that series.”
Fast bowler Chris Jordan, Archer’s Sussex teammate, could also make a comeback to the ODI setup 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. “With regard to resting players, we are conscious of managing player workloads leading into such an important summer so that players are in the best possible condition for the World Cup.
“That was also a factor in the way we have selected these three squads.”