Bowlers be warned… Jofra plans to be your arch enemy
EOIN MORGAN has urged his pace bowlers to take their chance to show what they can do before Jofra Archer adds to England’s World Cup selection headache.
Until Archer qualifies at the end of March, skipper Morgan refuses to be drawn on whether or not he is likely to feature in England’s World Cup plans, but knows there will be a big decision to be made around him.
Does he, head coach Trevor Bayliss and national selector Ed Smith take a gamble on a man with no international experience and just 14 List A games under his belt on the eve of the biggest tournament in the game?
Or do they put their faith in the group of bowlers who have taken them to No 1 in the world, have a huge amount of experience between them, and have won nine series in a row?
Former skipper Nasser Hussain has issued a loud plea for Archer to be included, and that dilemma could become clearer following five one-day internationals against the Windies – the first is played here tomorrow – in which their bowlers will be under the spotlight.
“Probably one of the best attributes I have is to compartmentalise things,” said Morgan last night.
“Until Jofra qualifies he’s not really in our thoughts. The focus for us is on this series.
“At the moment we are very lucky because we probably have only one injury to a guy who might have been involved, Olly Stone. He is capable of bowling 90mph, along with Liam Plunkett and Mark Wood.
“The difference of having those guys is quite significant. You only had to watch the Test matches to see how valuable they are.
“Our bowlers have played a huge part in our success over recent matches and series and a guy like Liam has one of the best strike rates we’ve ever had.
“I wouldn’t say they are on trial in this series, but it is a chance for them to show what they can do, as they have done for a number of matches now.”
Morgan is happy enough to embrace England’s position as World Cup favourites, but knows that will count for nothing here in the Caribbean, even if the home side have not won a series since 2014. The Tests showed that form might not count for much on the day, but it would be an almighty shock were the World Cup qualifiers to win three games or more over the next two weeks.
“Expectations are high in that everyone expects us to win,” added Morgan. “But the manner in which we do will play out differently to how people expect.
“West Indies will be a tough challenge and everyone in our dressing room knows that. It’s not an easy place to come and win, particularly when they have a lot of matchwinners.
“We’ve spoken about being favourites and don’t mind the tag – we’ve learned to be at ease with it in the last few series.
“Every series that we’ve played has almost been a rehearsal for the build-up for the big occasion so I can’t imagine anything is going to change.”
Returning Windies skipper Jason Holder will be unleashing both ends of the age spectrum with 39-year-old Chris Gayle back in action and 21-year-old Jamaican pace star Oshane Thomas ready to take down the England batsmen, who struggled against pace in the Tests at times.
Holder said: “It’s good to have Oshane in the squad. He’s an expressive young bowler who is pretty sharp and quick. It will be good to see him bowl.
“It is always good to have Chris playing. He can still do a job – we wouldn’t have picked him otherwise. He’s done a lot for us and it’s good to see him fit and playing.”