The smallest whisper of the possibility of Jofra Archer sending down a couple of overs in an England shirt is enough to send the rumour mill into overdrive.
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Archer has England management in a chokehold whenever his fitness nears match readiness, and it’s hard to think of another bowler of that power. But, the World Cup does seem to have come a month too soon. Archer isn’t in the 15-man preliminary squad named today (August 16), and won’t feature against New Zealand in the run-up to the tournament.
England men’s selector, Luke Wright, did reveal, however, that Archer would likely go to India as a travelling reserve, with the hope that he could be able to play some part in the competition’s latter stages.
Speaking on the BBC’s coverage of The Hundred, Archer said: “I’m feeling alright, I’m a bit hopeful as well. For right now I’m feeling okay and everything is going okay. You just need a little bit of luck and a little bit of hope.
Gus Atkinson has made a huge leap into England’s ODI squad. After he was clocked at 95mph for Oval Invincibles last week, it seemed increasingly likely that the England selection panel might take a punt on him as Archer’s understudy.
“It’s nice to see Gus in,” said Archer. “Gus has been bowling really well in the Hundred as well. He’s been bowling really well for Surrey, so it’s nice to see him get a chance.”
While Atkinson offers raw speed, enough to beat Jos Buttler for pace in Manchester Originals’ clash with the Invincibles, the withdrawal Archers’ absence leaves can’t be completely satisfied.
Few bowlers can do what Archer did in 2019. With David Willey the incumbent, part of a solid group of players that had been carefully crafted in the perfect balance over the preceding four-year period, Archer forced England’s plans to change. He displaced Willey weeks before the tournament, and a few overs were enough to prove that decision correct. Ever since he bowled that over in the dying breaths of the Lord’s final and showed what he could do in the longest format that summer, he’s had a nation hooked on his every move.
Regardless of the causes of his injuries, being over-bowled by England or unfortunate stresses in his action, the long absences he’s had from international colours have been hard for England and even harder for him. There has been a never-ending cycle of statements of possible returns before their inevitable forestallment. When he did make his comeback early this year, first in the SA20 and then for England, he was every bit as glorious as we all mythologised.
One bouncer, one look at a speed gun above 90 clicks, and we were hooked again.
Taking an injured player, who has no chance of playing until at least the second half, as injury replacement to the biggest international tournament there is, while attempting to defend your World Cup title, sounds insane on paper. For no one else but Jofra Archer (or perhaps Ben Stokes), it would be. But the impact he could have if he can play even a couple of games could be tremendous.
It’s worth noting that another player will have to get injured for Archer to come in, even if he is fit. In a long tournament in India, during which England will play nine matches even before the knockout stages if they make it, it doesn’t sound unreasonable that one of England’s six seam options could break down. With one of those being Mark Wood, and Stokes’ knee perpetually on the brink of collapse, it seems almost likely.
We must never expect too much of Archer. That his career is still going seems miraculous at this point. He will forever be etched into England’s history books and should be remembered when he eventually hangs up his boots as one of the most exciting bowlers England has ever had. With all that in consideration, taking him along, even if it does turn out to just be for the ride, doesn’t seem like a bad plan.
