England have included fast bowler Jofra Archer in their preliminary squad for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, setting up the much-anticipated international return for one of the most exciting bowlers in cricket whose career has been derailed by injuries.
The 29-year-old has barely played for England in any form since 2021, mainly due to ongoing problems with his right elbow, for which he has undergone two operations. He was unable to play for most of 2022 due to a back injury.
The Barbados-born pacer changed his nationality to qualify for the England team ahead of the 2019 Cricket World Cup, where he helped his adopted country win on home soil. He then played a crucial role in winning the Ashes series that year.
England hope he stays fit to play in a four-match Twenty20 series against Pakistan and then the World Cup, which is taking place in the Caribbean and the United States.
Lancashire left-arm all-rounder Tom Hartley is the only uncapped player in the squad, while Surrey batsman Will Jacks, also selected, is yet to play in an ICC World Cup.
However, there was no place for all-rounder Chris Woakes, who was part of England’s T20 and ODI World Cup teams, while batsman Dawid Malan was also left out.
Archer is also joined by fellow fast bowler Chris Jordan, who played in the 2022 final against Pakistan.
Jonny Bairstow, who has achieved great success in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in recent weeks, has also found a place in the squad.
Key said the players featured in the IPL – including Jos Buttler and Phil Salt – would return to England for the Pakistan series from May 22, even if it means they would miss the latter stages of the IPL. The final will take place on May 26th, with playoff games beginning on May 21st.
England are led by Buttler and the team is aiming for a third T20 World Cup title.
Our ICC Men’s T20 World Cup squad is looking for 🔥🔥🔥
Who are you most excited about? 👇#EnglandCricket | @T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/48Q6pO2CzE
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) April 30, 2024
“He’s something special”
England’s opening game is against Scotland at Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 4, which Robert Key – chief executive of England men’s cricket – said would be particularly exciting for Archer.
“He’s special,” Key said.
“You do everything you can to get him to play again. This time we took the longer route. As always with Jofra, keep your fingers crossed for him until he plays out there. You know, when you wait for something really good to happen, you don’t believe it until it’s there.”
Archer, who has not played competitive cricket at the highest level since May 2023, is currently out of the spotlight and is playing some club games in the Caribbean to get fit. He could play a few games for English county side Sussex ahead of the Pakistan series, when England will test his fitness.
In a recent interview, Archer said he doesn’t know “if I have another stop-start year left in me.”
“I know it was a tremendous burden on him,” Key said. “He’s been gone for a while now but every single thing he does causes noise and I think it’s been tough mentally.
“That’s why we made sure we did it right, letting him go home and spend some time in Barbados and train there rather than staying in England all the time. With Jofra it’s always been a balance, we’ve tried to take into account his mental wellbeing and actually how do we prepare him for what we need. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that he gets the happiness he really deserves.”
England’s T20 World Cup squad: Jos Buttler (captain), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, Mark Wood