Archer in squad for first Ashes Test as England keep options open
Party of 14 players includes a wider choice of pacemen Stokes back as vice-captain after heroics at World Cup
England have called Jofra Archer into their squad for the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston on Thursday and reinstated Ben Stokes as Test vice-captain after his coming of age in their World Cup triumph.
However, Archer – England’s leading wicket-taker at the World Cup – is not certain to make his Test debut against Australia this week. England’s selectors have opted for a 14-man party stocked with pace bowling options, partly because of the recent injuries to Archer and James Anderson, who tore a calf muscle and missed the inaugural Test against Ireland, but also to allow for a variety of conditions.
“Though it is unusual to select a squad of 14 for a home Test, there are compelling reasons to do so here,” said national selector Ed Smith.
“Several bowlers are recovering from injuries or niggles. In addition, some bowlers who played in the World Cup are being closely monitored to assess their preparation for Test match cricket.
“The wider circumstances – a successful home World Cup campaign followed so quickly by a home Ashes series – are unprecedented. It feels sensible to select an expanded squad and leave a number of bowling options open for the final team selection.”
In addition to their perennial opening pair of Anderson and Stuart Broad, who took seven wickets in the defeat of Ireland, England have two pacebowling all-rounders in Chris Woakes and Sam Curran, and Olly Stone as well to compete with Archer. Stone can match Archer for pace and movement, if not bounce, and took three wickets in a promising debut against Ireland.
England’s selectors have also kept faith with their struggling top three of Rory Burns, Jason Roy and Joe Denly. Burns had an inauspicious home Test debut against Ireland, scoring six and
six while the nightwatchman Jack Leach made 92. Leach’s steadiness and orthodoxy at the crease also made a contrast to Burns.
The selection of Burns, Roy and Denly is an indicator that England’s head coach Trevor Bayliss has again failed to persuade captain Joe Root to promote himself to No 3. “That’s been my thought [that he should bat at three] for a few years,” Bayliss said. “Look, Joe’s the captain – he’ll make the final decision, as he did when he went back to four. He knows how I feel. Whether he goes in at one for 20 or two for 20, he can still cop a good one.”
Colin Graves, the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, has approved the restoration of Stokes as the Test vice-captain after he was stripped of the post following the Bristol nightclub incident in September 2017. The recommendation was made by England’s director, Ashley Giles, and the chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, Tom Harrison.
Stokes, 28, takes over from Jos Buttler, who is earmarked as Eoin Morgan’s successor as England’s ODI captain when the time comes, sooner rather than later. “Ben is a natural leader and has a great understanding of the game,” Giles said. “Over the past 18 months he has come a long way and has shown a great deal of maturity on and off the field.
“I have no doubts that the added responsibility will also help him to continue his rise as a world-class allrounder in the Test arena.”
With David Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft restored to the Australia side, and Stokes reappointed England’s Test vice-captain, the first Test will bring a reunion of officially reformed characters.