Jofra Archer’s late bid for a Cricket World Cup place was yesterday rewarded when the Sussex fast bowler was named in hosts England’s 15-man squad for the tournament.
Barbados-born Archer only became qualified for England in March and has played just three one-day internationals.
He edged out left-arm quick David Willey, a veteran of 46 one-day internationals, after both pacemen featured during England’s 4-0 series win at home to Pakistan which concluded on Sunday.
Photo: Reuters
There was also no place in the squad, again captained by Eoin Morgan, for backup spinner and batsman Joe Denly, with Hampshire slow left-armer Liam Dawson — who did not feature against Pakistan — recalled as cover for Adil Rashid, who is nursing a shoulder problem.
Both Denly and Willey were named in England’s provisional squad, as was opener Alex Hales.
James Vince came in after England decided against selecting Hales following the Nottinghamshire batsman’s ban for recreational drug use.
England reduced their qualification period from seven years to three, a move they insisted was solely to bring them into line with the rest of the world rather than advance the selection of paceman Archer — whose father is English.
Even though Willey offered a different angle of attack as the only left-arm quick in contention, Archer’s ability to bowl at 145kph — and his variety of slower balls — has seen him get the nod.
Willey, who has helped England climb to the top of the one-day international rankings following their first-round exit at the 2015 Cricket World Cup, was among those who questioned the prospect of Archer playing for England at this year’s edition when the Sussex quick became eligible in March.
“It’s a group of players that have been together for three or four years that have got us to No. 1 and there’s a reason for that,” Willey said. “Whether someone should just walk in at the drop of a hat because they are available, whether that’s the right thing, I don’t know.”
England have two warm-up matches — against Australia in Southampton on Saturday and Afghanistan at The Oval in London on Monday — before launching the tournament against South Africa at The Oval on Thursday next week.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just