I fear Jofra could damage our unity

None of us deserve to be dropped, says Wood

MARK WOOD has compared the impending selection of Jofra archer by England to the signing of Faustino asprilla by Newcastle on their foiled Nineties title run-in.

tomorrow, the recently-qualified sussex fast bowler will be named in the squad to face Ireland and Pakistan next month — six matches that will build up to a World Cup on home soil as favourites.

archer’s inclusion is the talk of county dressing rooms at the start of the 2019 season, as accommodating such a special talent could damage a four-year cycle of success that has seen England dominate the one-day international scene.

In February 1996 Newcastle, nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, decided to add some stardust in the form of a new Colombian striker. By March 20, they had been overhauled by Manchester United.

‘Do you change a winning team that’s been No 1 for years? It was the old Kevin Keegan thing, bringing in asprilla because you want to keep the team at the top,’ Wood said. ‘But does that change the dynamic? all of a sudden, you lose the momentum and drop down.

‘Jofra is a world- class player. He plays in the hardest tournaments, the IPL and the Big Bash, and excels. But would I want to see Liam Plunkett, who’s been our best bowler for three years, left out? No. Would I want to see myself left out? Obviously not.

‘Would I want to see David Willey, who I’m close friends with and gives you a left-arm option, left out? No. Would I want to see Chris Woakes, another friend who’s taken loads of wickets, left out? No. Or tom Curran, who’s bowled well. Does anyone deserve to be left out? I don’t know.’

It is anticipated archer’s name will be in the 17 for a May 3 ODI in Dublin and then a twenty20 and five-match, ODI series at home to Pakistan. But he is not expected to be in the initial 15 for the World Cup.

‘It would probably be easier where you pick the same squad (now) and add Jofra in later, rather leaving someone out,’ Wood added. ‘If you look at Jofra in the Pakistan stuff and he doesn’t do as well as you think, then you add someone back in you left out, I don’t know if that looks better.’

Wood, 29, looks a shoo-in for a World Cup place after a resurgent winter return to test cricket with 90-mile-per-hour fire.

to preserve that speed, England management pulled him out of Durham’s first two Championship games of 2019. after scans last week on his left ankle that has had three surgeries, he will make his season bow in the Royal London Cup against Northamptonshire on Wednesday.

‘It’s a different game when I bowl fast,’ Wood said. ‘I can’t say, “I’m carrying niggles, leave me out.” I want to play for England, I want to do well.

‘Do you want me to bowl with niggles and my pace be slightly down? then, you can’t question my injury record. Or do you want me to bowl 90mph all the time?

‘the way I felt at the end of the Caribbean tour, I wish the World Cup was the week after. I felt on top of the world. I put in the performances I should have given England for two or three years.’