Pacha’s payback
Third Test - Gros Islet, St Lucia (2pm). One-day tour match - Cave Hill, Barbados (TBC). First one-day international - Bridgetown, Barbados (3pm). Second ODI - Bridgetown, Barbados (3pm). Third ODI - St George’s, Grenada (1.30pm).
Fourth ODI - St George’s Grenada (1.30pm). Fifth ODI - Gros Islet, St Lucia (3pm).
First Twenty20 International - Gros Islet, St Lucia (8pm).
Second T20I - Basseterre, St Kitts (8pm). Third T20I - Basseterre, St Kitts (8pm). Root (capt), Moeen Ali, Anderson, Bairstow, Broad, Burns, Buttler, S Curran, Denly, Foakes, Jennings, Leach, Adil Rashid, Stokes, Stone, Woakes.
ENGLAND have left the door ajar for Jofra Archer to be a World Cup bolter – despite being unable to pick him in the West Indies.
National selector Ed Smith announced two familiar looking squads with Joe Denly and Olly Stone the only uncapped players in the Test party. And yet it was the name of a player still unavailable who could be the most interesting selection if and when he gets the nod in March. Sussex’s Barbados-born paceman Archer is firmly in the thinking for the World Cup after the end of his threeyear qualification early next year. Smith said: “I wouldn’t rule anything out. If they’re available, are they in the best squad? If so, we’d consider them.” After sealing a 3-0 whitewash in Sri Lanka there was little mystery in the 16-strong Test squad with the same group that ended the series retained. Denly held off competition from Jason Roy and Ollie Pope. Smith claimed Pope’s omission was less a statement on his suitability for the Test arena and more about the strength of competition in the middle order.
He added: “Jason is very talented. We will continue to watch his development very closely.”
England must name a provisional World Cup squad on April 23 and have a one-off ODI in Ireland plus a fivematch home series against Pakistan to finalise their preparations.
Spot
It could be seen as a risk to fast-track Archer, 23, into a group that has blended with great success.
But there could be one seam bowling spot up for grabs if injury-prone Mark Wood or the fit-again David Willey falter. The squad for the three-match T20 series to complete the Caribbean tour in March will be named later. SRI LANKA spinner Akila Dananjaya has been banned from international cricket because of an illegal bowling action. Dananjaya, who was reported during last month’s first Test against England, must now modify his action before applying for another test and possible reinstatement. OMAR PACHA is reaping the rewards for throwing down the gauntlet to his Dundee Stars.
The Dundee coach told them to prove they aren’t the Elite League’s whipping boys – and they are now in a play-off spot after dropping just one point out of their last 16.
They lost to Sheffield on Sunday, but Pacha said: “Everyone has increased their game and we’ve had a good run.”
The Stars don’t have the big fan base of some rivals and have the smallest wage bill in the league.
But they have sneaked into the top eight and are a point ahead of their big rivals Glasgow Clan.
Pacha said: “Everybody knows we are the underdogs – at the start of the season everyone put us down at the bottom – but we thrive on that and want to prove everybody wrong.” SWEDISH star Thom Flodqvist has joined Coventry Blaze on loan for the rest of the season after Trey Lewis retired on medical advice.