LONDON (AFP): Jofra Archer, Tom Curran and Liam Dawson have been named in England’s World Cup squad, with David Willey and Joe Denly missing out. Barbados-born Archer, 24, qualified to play for England in March and is chosen after playing only three one-day internationals.
That left one further pace-bowling place in the 15-man squad and Surrey’s Curran has edged out left-armer Willey. England have opted for the specialist spin of Hampshire slow left-armer Dawson rather than the all-round option of Denly.
Led by Eoin Morgan, the hosts, who have never won the World Cup, will start the tournament as favourites.
They begin their campaign in the opening match against South Africa at The Oval on 30 May. Willey and Denly were named in England’s provisional 15-man squad in April, alongside batsman Alex Hales.
Hales was dropped after serving a suspension for reportedly failing a recreational drugs test, and his place, as expected, has gone to James Vince.
Archer, who has a British father, was also absent from the provisional squad, but was given the chance to impress in the one-off win in Ireland and the 4-0 series victory over Pakistan that followed. Capable of bowling in excess of 90mph, the Sussex player particularly caught the eye with a hostile new-ball spell in the abandoned first game against Pakistan.
National selector Ed Smith told BBC Sport: “Archer does bring different things to the squad. We saw that in advance and when he has had an opportunity in an England shirt he has shown what he is capable of.
“He’s a special cricketer. He has pace, athleticism, dynamism and he can get you a wicket in any circumstances. There was a broad desire for him to be in the squad.” Archer joins Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Liam Plunkett and Curran as pace bowlers in the squad.
“I can’t believe it has happened so quickly. I had it in my head I’d have to wait seven years,” Archer told Sky Sports. “I was always prepared to wait however long it would take. Everyone welcomed me with open arms from the moment I got in. “I haven’t worked out how I can bowl so quickly. I just know if you look after your body, your body will look after you.” With all-rounder Ben Stokes also bowling seam, coach Trevor Bayliss felt that seven fast bowlers was too many, meaning Yorkshire’s Willey was left out.
He can be considered unfortunate, after featuring heavily in England’s rise to the top of the International Cricket Council rankings since they were knocked out of the 2015 World Cup at the group stage. Indeed, of all of the players to have made more than 40 appearances for England since the last tournament, only Willey and Hales are not included in the squad.
Willey misses out despite bowling a crucial spell at the end of England’s second ODI win against Pakistan in Southampton. However, swing is an important part of his armoury and, with the white-ball offering precious little assistance to bowlers, England have opted for the slower balls and trickery of Curran. “David could easily have been in and was deserving of being in,” said Smith. “They were more players deserving of selection than there were spots in the squad. Someone was going to be unlucky and that happened to be David.
“The phone call that I had with him was exactly what you would expect from the outstanding man that he is.
“He was disappointed, extremely dignified and polite. I explained the reasons and he took it in exactly the way that characterises this one-day side.” Quiz: Can you name England squads from 2011 and 2015 World Cups?
Asked if the inclusion of Archer at the expense of Willey could cause
“tension” in the dressing room, Smith said: “I don’t accept that.
“The England players are getting to know Jofra and there is a broad
understanding that he brings new things to the team.
“They are enjoying his company and enjoying his cricket. I do not
think that is a problem.”
Denly is primarily a batsman who can bowl some leg-spin. His initial
inclusion was a bid to give England flexibility and cover in a number
of areas.
He had limited opportunities to impress in the series against
Pakistan, bowling six wicketless overs and making 17 in his only
innings.
With Vince in the squad as the first-choice reserve batsman, England
have decided that Dawson is a better alternative to leg-spinner Adil
Rashid, whom Smith said had a “slight shoulder niggle”, and
off-spinner Moeen Ali.
Dawson has been in excellent form during Hampshire’s run to the
One-Day Cup final, taking 18 wickets and averaging 45 with the bat.
Neither he nor Vince will be available to play in Saturday’s final
against Somerset at Lord’s.
England play warm-up matches that do not have ODI status against
Australia in Southampton on Saturday and Afghanistan at The Oval on
Monday.
England squad
Eoin Morgan (capt, Middlesex), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jofra
Archer (Sussex), Jonny Bairstow (wk, Yorkshire), Jos Buttler (wk,
Lancashire), Tom Curran (Surrey), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Liam
Plunkett (Surrey), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire),
Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), James Vince (Hampshire),
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham).
