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Cricket

Jofra Archer fails to make it to England’s ODI squad to face New Zealand

Ben Stokes has been selected for England’s one-day international team (ODI) for the forthcoming four-match series against New Zealand. Men’s national selector Luke Wright has confirmed that the same 15 players will represent England at the World Cup in India. As he continues to rehabilitate from an elbow injury that has kept him out this summer, fast bowler Jofra Archer, who was so important in England’s 50-over World Cup victory four years ago, has no place.

Archer, who led England in wickets when they won the event four years ago and sealed their victory in the championship match with a calm Super Over, has been sidelined with an elbow stress fracture this year and hasn’t played since the IPL. Former Sussex teammate Luke Wright, an England selector, stated that while they were “desperate” wanted Archer to be well, they were hesitant to “force him into playing” before the end of his recovery process.

While England may make changes to their team until September 28, it is probable that, barring an injury, they would stay with the six frontline seamers in their 15-man squad for the New Zealand ODIs. England have selected Reece Topley, Gus Atkinson, David Willey, Mark Wood, Sam Curran, and Chris Woakes as batters only. However, injuries have always been a possibility for those chosen. Wood is frequently out of shape and played in only three of England’s Ashes Test matches this summer. Sam Curran previously had a back stress fracture, and Reece Topley missed last year’s T20 World Cup due to a strange dislocated shoulder on the pitch.

“I don’t think we can, unfortunately, have him in the squad to start with,” Wright explained. “Best-case scenario for Jof really at the moment would probably be available for the back-end of the tournament. That’s best-case scenario, which obviously, in a squad of 15, is going to leave us quite light.”

“This is the squad we are going to put forward,” Wright said on Wednesday. “It’s incredibly hard on some players that are going to miss out. It shows the strength and depth we have in English Cricket and there are other names who are knocking on the door as well.”

The team, captained by Jos Buttler and first picked for next month’s four-match One-Day International (ODI) series against New Zealand, does not have to be submitted to the ICC until September 5, and may be amended at any moment until September 28. England’s opening match, again against New Zealand, is scheduled on October 5 in Ahmedabad.

England’s World Cup campaign kicks off on October 5 against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Before the competition, the two teams will play a four-match One-Day International (ODI) series.

 

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