Archer pace may be handful

South Africa coach Ottis Gibson wants England fast bowler Jofra Archer to have a good World Cup – but only after the Proteas have played the hosts in Thursday’s tournament opener at the Oval.

Former West Indies fast bowler Gibson, like Archer, was born in Barbados.

Gibson had a chance to observe the then teenage Archer’s progress when he returned to the Caribbean as coach of the West Indies in 2010.

Archer, whose father is English, was included in the host country’s World Cup squad on the back of just three one-day international appearances after completing a three-year qualification period in March.

“He’s fresh and he’s obviously talented and he’s got a lot of pace and he’s from Barbados, so I’m glad that they picked him,” Gibson, also a former England bowling coach, told reporters on Tuesday.

Archer’s ability to bowl at speeds of 90km/h, allied to a variety of alternative deliveries including a slower ball, has seen the 24-year-old make a name for himself on the Twenty20 franchise circuit.

“He’s a very good kid,” said Gibson. “I’ve known him from Barbados when he was a youngster growing up there, so I’m really pleased for him.

“He’s got a lot of talent. He’s bringing pace. And he’s a match-winner. So hopefully he won’t have much of a say in this game, but then he’ll have a really good tournament once this game is over.”