Star all-rounder Ben Stokes’ match-winning prowess and Jofra Archer’s “box office pace” are a must for England in the 2024 T20 World Cup, and the injured players will have open places in the team for them, White said. Football coach Matthew Mott.
Stokes is recovering from knee surgery he underwent in November and hopes to be fit to lead England in the Test series in India in January-March next year. While fast bowler Archer has not played for England since March due to an elbow injury.
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The duo are expected to feature in the T20 World Cup squad for the showpiece event starting in June, fitness permitting.
“I think that’s a given,” Mott said when asked if Stokes and Archer would be in the squad selected for the World Cup.
“Ben, apart from his incredible ability to win games in every division, gives us that ability to have a bowler in your top six which gives you so many options with the balance of your team… it makes selection so much easier,” he said ahead of the T20I match. Fifth and final against the West Indies here: “That’s a given.”
“As far as Jofra is concerned, he’s just got absolute pace at the box office, change of pace, turnover in every innings. Throw your Super Over, throw your last when they need to. He’s huge in the park, and everyone agrees with that.” .
Archer has suffered a series of injuries that have kept him out of Test cricket since 2021. He played just seven white-ball matches in 2023. He was not selected in the Test squad to tour India for the match in January next year.
The T20 World Cup will be held in June next year in the West Indies and the United States.
Mott also noted that the opening duo of Jos Buttler and Phil Salt are also expected to be in the T20 World Cup squad.
“It looks pretty good, doesn’t it?” said Mott when asked about the Buttler-Salt pairing that has led to back-to-back century partnerships in the last two innings.
“We’ve got a lot of time between now and then. Obviously Salty has put up an undeniable case there and that Joss is one of the greatest players of all time. So how we qualify for the top six or seven will be interesting. The T20I series has been drawn The five-match series between England and West Indies is 2-2 with the final match being played here on Friday.
This series is an important one for England as all their group stage matches of the T20 World Cup are expected to be played in Antigua, Barbados and St Lucia.
“We’ve always said with this series that we’re going to get very close to the side we’re looking for, otherwise why would they be here?” Death said.
“We don’t get a lot of opportunities to play together before the World Cup. So, this is a very strong team that we have bought here.”