Jofra Archer has been selected into England’s Test squad for the first Ashes Test against Australia at Edgbaston, with Ben Stokes reappointed as vice-captain.
Jofra Archer has been fast-tracked into England’s Test squad for next week’s Ashes opener at Edgbaston, with allrounder Ben Stokes reappointed as vice-captain.
The decisions are a ringing endorsement of both men who arguably did more than anyone to deliver England’s historic World Cup final win over New Zealand, involved with bat and ball in the unprecedented super over which secured the silverware.
Archer, uncapped at Test level, was nursing a side strain after the tournament but reported fit after a brief holiday in his native Barbados and returned to action on Friday night for Sussex.
His 2-21 in the tied T20 Blast match convinced selectors to include him in an expanded 14-man squad featuring plenty of bowling options.
Stokes reclaims his position as Joe Root’s deputy – a role he had lost after the infamous late night brawl in September 2017. He was ultimately cleared of an of an affray charge but Jos Buttler became acting vice-captain.
Ten of the 11 players who defeated Ireland in a rollercoaster Test at Lord’s were included, joined by Stokes, Archer, Buttler and James Anderson, who were all rested for that match.
Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad finished off in spectacular style at the home of cricket, taking 6-17 and 4-19 respectively as the Irish were demolished for just 38. Olly Stone and left-armer Sam Curran complete the pace options.
Jack Leach unfortunately misses out having been named man of the match for his nightwatchman’s knock of 92 in a low-scoring game. His left-arm spin was considered surplus to requirements.
“Though it is unusual to select a squad of 14 for a home Test, there are compelling reasons to do so here,” national selector Ed Smith said.
“Several bowlers are recovering from injuries or niggles. In addition, some bowlers who played in the World Cup are being closely monitored to assess their preparation for Test match cricket.
“The wider circumstances – a successful home World Cup campaign followed so quickly by a home Ashes series – are unprecedented. It feels sensible to select an expanded squad and leave a number of bowling options open for the final team selection.”
On Stokes’ leadership return, a statement confirmed the decision had passed through several senior management figures at the England and Wales Cricket Board.
“Colin Graves, chairman of the ECB, has approved the reappointment of Ben Stokes as Test vice-captain following the recommendation from managing director of England men’s cricket Ashley Giles and ECB chief executive Tom Harrison.”
ENGLAND SQUAD:
Joe Root (capt), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.
Josh H
Roar Rookie
Burns Up until about 2 seasons ago, he was playing purely as a wicketkeeper, it's only been recently that he's reinvented himself as an opening batsman
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Very true. Mind boggling to see him getting off so lightly and now returned to the vice-captaincy. Doesn’t matter that he was legally acquitted by a jury of the afraid charges. As you point out, it is incontestable that he damn near beat someone in a defenceless position within an inch of their life while drunk an out of control. May be a decent person most of the time, but it says something about the ECB’s standards of what constitutes bringing the game into disrepute.
Cari
Roar Rookie
Well the ball swings in England and why it does is due to the atmosphere and the wear on one side of the ball. Even Austrian cricketers know that they even bring sandpaper on the field to help it. Tell me how you prepare a pitch to take swing, better then that tell the Edgbaston groundsman, he would love to know.
Paul
Roar Guru
Tell me how Australia, with the diversity of pitches, does that? Tell me how India, with one of the best seam attacks in world cricket, does that? Tell me how Pakistan does that when they play their "home" at Dubai and the UAE, again with a very useful seam attack, does that? What about the variety of [itches that the West Indians nations provide? The bulk of these are low and slow so you're telling me they doctor these to suit their team of fast bowlers? South Africa is the only other nation I'm aware of that has deliberately set up pitches for their players and that worked well against Sri Lanka, didn't it?
Cari
Roar Rookie
I’ve answered this previously but I’ll do so again. I think you know only too well that all nations produce wickets that hopefully suit the home team. It doesn’t produce the goods all the time but all will try. Don’t try to infer that England is the only nation to provide friendly wickets for their cricketers, it doesn’t do you any favours.
Cari
Roar Rookie
Sure, a good spin bowler will take wickets on any wicket but what I said is basically true. I think England will use a spinner as a holding bowler as we don’t have at the moment an outstanding performer in the art.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
The spinners are critical to the series for me often taking critical wickets. tell that to shane warne who decimated england . Lyon was our best bowler at edbaston in 15 but really he shouldn't be given anderson and finns performance there but pretty sure he picked up 3 wickets first innings and did some damage at lords I think but need to recheck. Leach is Englands best spinner for sure at present , I think Ronan released some stats on him or thought s which evidence this. He's better than mooen thats for sure and the aussies don't play spin more recently that well too in tests thats for sure.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Rain at edbaston and batting second would be delightful for Australia . Lets get to lords.
James Butcher
Guest
3 keepers? Bairstow, Butler and ?
Brett A
Roar Rookie
Why is Jonny Bairstow considered such a lock in this England side when Joss Buttler can keep? Here are his recent test performances in England: 2017 vs SA: Av 41 ✅ 2017 vs WI: Av 15 ❌ 2018 vs PAK: Av 16 ❌ 2018 vs IND: Av 26 ❌ 2019 vs IRE: ????????
Josh H
Roar Rookie
Stokes deserves a lot more credit than that to be fair
Josh H
Roar Rookie
That awkward moment when England name 3 keepers in their team but leave their best one at home
Paul
Roar Guru
hi Cari, England have a track record of producing pitches that suit their attack and that applies today as it has done for decades. Right now, the team does not have a spinner of note but does have a number of guys capable of doing very good things if there's a bit of seam, hence the pitches India copped last year and what we're likely to see this year. If they had one or even two high quality slow bowlers, I reckon you'd be seeing very different tracks than what will be dished up in this series.
Paul
Roar Guru
England are likely to play a combination of Anderson, Broad, Woakes, Archer and Ali, with Stokes a given as a support paceman. In response, Australia will be likely playing Cummins, Pattinson, Lyon and one of Hazlewood, Starc or Siddle. If England want to go with a greentop, Australia is perfectly capable of meeting fire with fire, even to the point of dropping Lyon and bringing in 2 quality quicks. Given how badly England batted against Ireland, I suspect the pitch at best will have a green tinge, that will maybe last a morning, then settle into more of an even contest. If it truly is green throughout the game, Australia is perfectly capable of shooting England out twice for under 150 and would back themselves with guys like Smith to make more runs.
Paul
Roar Guru
and if Root has any sort of injury and can't take the field, this leaves Stokes as the English Test cricket captain, after all the things you mentioned above, Mat.
Old mate
Roar Rookie
Looks like a green wicket will be prepared, given only one spinner has been picked
Mat from Armidale
Guest
Stokes must be the luckiest cricketer going around. Lucky he didn’t shatter every bone in his hand when he punched that locker. Lucky that bloke he attacked didn’t die. Lucky that he didn’t go to prison. Lucky the ECB let him off so lightly. Lucky how he scored that “6”. Lucky how the umpires missed that it should only have been 5. Looks like his luck just keeps on going...
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Pretty spot on I would think. It will either be your XI or Nudge's above I imagine. Batting depth and bowling diversity. Looks a whole lot stronger than the XI they pitted against Ireland.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I'm not sure how much role the spinner(s) will play in this match. Looks like we will lose much of the first two days to rain, so likely they won't get much of a look in.
Cari
Roar Rookie
In general terms English wickets are not noted for spinning wickets though in a five day test match it can turn by using the bowlers’ footmarks. I stress in general terms and I not saying that the odd wicket will not turn but both India and Pakistan, noted for their spin bowlers, have struggled on English test wickets. Leach who I think wears glasses in the after match interview comes across as totally surprised as we all were by his batting performance. A nice unassuming guy who seems as shocked as we are with his 92 which no one can take away. But I honest thought it was very likely that he would not make the final squad and Moeen Ali can consider himself lucky that he made the group. Ali has been way out of form now for some time and with that comes a lack of confidence. However, after the first ball is bowled all bets are off.