Jofra Archer and Chris Jordan have made their way into England’s 15-member provisional squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup, signaling a significant boost to the defending champions’ line-up as they gear up to defend their title in the Caribbean and the United States.
Archer, 29, has been cleared for selection after recovering from a right elbow injury that sidelined him from competitive cricket since May last year. The Barbados-born pacer showcased promising signs of a successful return during his participation in the Barbados Cricket Association T20 Cup tournament for club side Wildey this month, impressing with his pace and form.
Speaking about Archer’s inclusion, England’s director of cricket, Rob Key, emphasized the special talent that Archer brings to the squad and expressed optimism about his fitness and readiness for the tournament. Archer’s return to full-match intensity during the upcoming series against Pakistan will be a crucial step in assessing his match readiness.
Jordan’s inclusion adds depth to England’s bowling attack
Meanwhile, Chris Jordan, 35, makes a comeback to the national squad after his last T20 International appearance against New Zealand in September last year. Known for his bowling prowess, particularly in the death overs, Jordan’s inclusion adds depth to England’s bowling attack. Key highlighted Jordan’s improved batting performance as another contributing factor to his selection, citing the significance of power-hitting in Caribbean conditions.
The squad features Lancashire’s left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Tom Hartley as the sole uncapped player, while Surrey batsman Will Jacks earns his first call-up to an ICC World Cup squad. However, there was disappointment for all-rounder Chris Woakes and left-handed batsman Dawid Malan, who were left out of the provisional squad.
England’s preparations for the tournament will include a home series of four T20Is against Pakistan, commencing on May 22 at Headingley. The defending champions will kick off their T20 World Cup campaign against Scotland on June 4 in Barbados, aiming to replicate their success from the previous edition and clinch the title once again.
