CROCKED ARCHER’S REST CURE
At least England’s premier paceman is putting Tests first
EnglAnD’S fullstrength Twenty20 side flunked their lines in their potential World Cup final dress rehearsal on Saturday when they slumped to a 36-run loss to India and a 3-2 series defeat that leaves more questions than answers.
Here Cricket Correspondent Paul newman looks at the major issues still facing Eoin Morgan...
ARCHER PRIORITISES ENGLAND
ENGLAND need Jofra Archer fit and firing if they are to win the Twenty20 World Cup in India and then the Ashes at the end of this year. So confirmation yesterday of news broken on MailOnline that he will miss the 50-over series and the start of the IPl because of his recurring elbow injury is a big concern.
‘It’s clearly something we need to get to the bottom of,’ said coach Chris Silverwood. ‘ We’re going to make sure he has every resource necessary to get him back fighting fit for England.’
But the good news is that Archer has ended any possible doubts over his commitment to
Test cricket by seeking treatment and rest now rather than fulfilling all of his £800,000 contract with Rajasthan Royals.
‘It was a joint decision by us and Jofra and both parties put England first,’ added Silverwood. ‘Jofra wants to be at the World Cup and Ashes so this is a sensible option.’
THE MALAN CONUNDRUM
DAWID MALAN became the fastest batsman in Twenty20 history to reach a thousand international runs, in his 24th innings, with 68 off 46 balls on Saturday. The world’s no 1-ranked short-form batsman has an average in excess of 50 and a strike-rate of 144.
Yet it is still not certain he is the best option at no 3 for a World Cup in Indian conditions. He could have ended all arguments if he had led England to their formidable target of 225 but after making a faster than usual start, Malan couldn’t maintain the asking rate. The question remains as to whether Malan is one of England’s best six T20 batsmen. He could do with a strong debut IPl campaign with Punjab Kings.
MORE NEEDED FROM STOKES
BEN STOKES is one of England’s best six batsmen in any format but he ended the T20 series a dejected and under-used figure, and Morgan must get more from him. Stokes faced only 56 balls in five games, scoring 70 runs, and there is an argument to move him up the order, where he was a big success for Rajasthan in the last IPl.
If Stokes batted at three, room could then be found for Moeen Ali at six to provide an extra spin option while theoretically strengthening the batting. It would be harsh on Malan but England need more power and options if they are to triumph in India in october.
MOEEN STILL MISSING
MOEEN was controversially rested for the last two Tests to keep him fresh for the T20 series and then didn’t play a game.
Silverwood insisted yesterday it was because the Ahmedabad pitches did not spin as much as expected but Moeen’s decline to seemingly fringe status in all formats is sobering. Morgan’s decision to field only 12 players in the series was in contrast to India, who introduced two more of their no-fear, IPl-trained batsmen — Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan — to productive effect. It can only be hoped Moeen gets a belated chance in the 50-over series that begins in Pune tomorrow.
JORDAN’S MIXED FORTUNES
CHRIS JORDAN pulled off one of the great pieces of fielding on Saturday when he caught Yadav one handed and then threw the ball to Jason Roy before stepping over the boundary.
But the best fielder in the world has become a worry with the ball. Jordan has gone at more than 10 an over in six of his past 10 T20 internationals and is not the death bowling force of old.
There are concerns, too, about Sam Curran, who only bowled 10 overs in five matches. David Willey must wonder what he did wrong. Archer, if fit, Adil Rashid and Mark Wood are bankers in England’s World Cup attack but two bowling places might yet be up for grabs. PS THE key moment in the decider was the fall of Buttler’s wicket but it was soured by Virat Kohli’s churlish send-off and another display of dissent to the umpires. It was hardly a surprise Kohli again escaped disciplinary action yesterday but he really does let himself down at times. The Indian captain needs to clean up his on-field act.