Former England fast bowler Steve Harmison has said that England should have picked Brydon Carse in their World Cup squad ahead of one of the three left-arm seamers included in the XV.

England announced their final squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup a few days back. Jason Roy was left out for Harry Brook while Jofra Archer was named as the sole travelling reserve.

As many as six fast bowlers have been named in the squad excluding Ben Stokes. Three of them are left-arm seamers: Reece Topley, David Willey, and Sam Curran.

Harmison, however, feels that England might have picked one left-armer too many and could have gone in with Carse instead. Carse made his international debut for England in 2021 and has played 10 ODIs so far. He recently made his T20I debut in the series against New Zealand and impressed with figures of 3-23 in his first game.

Carse could have played the sort of role Liam Plunkett did in the 2019 World Cup, according to Harmison. “I’d have taken Carse, Because I would say he gives you that Liam Plunkett role,” said Harmison, speaking to Wisden exclusively on behalf of Online Cricket Betting.

“If you go back to why we won the [2019] World Cup and why we were so successful, I think Carse would give you that Plunkett role in the middle of games. And he obviously bats deep as well. So I think I would have had Carse in there. I probably would have sacrificed one of the left-armers and gone with Carse, but other than that, this is a fantastic squad.”

Harmison had earlier said that England should not take Archer to India for the World Cup, even as a reserve. England have, however, named him as the only travelling reserve with selector Luke Wright mentioning how travelling with the squad would be beneficial for Archer’s rehab.

Harmison said that he understands the logic behind aiding Archer’s rehab, but would still hesitate to pick him to play in a World Cup game. “I’ll stand by what I said. I still don’t think it’s fair. I fully understand him going if all the medical things go on over there, then yes, there’s a logic,” said Harmison. “But if you’re asking him to come [straight] into the World Cup, I’m sorry, I think that’s too much of an ask for him. For him more than anyone else. So I feel sorry for him in that form.”

Harry Brook, who had not been named in the provisional squad for the World Cup, replaced veteran opener Jason Roy in the final version of the squad. Harmison felt that Roy got himself dropped by not featuring in the series against New Zealand.

“I think he left himself out by not playing. Jason Roy has been a magnificent servant to English cricket. But once he struggled to sort of get a game in this series with his back [injury], then he was always leaving Dawid Malan open for him to stake his claim and take his place.

“I think unfortunately for Jason, that was the case. I don’t see him going as a travelling reserve. And I don’t see him playing cricket for England again, unfortunately. Which is a shame for him,” said Harmison.

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