Nasser Hussain wants Jofra Archer in England World Cup squad
Archer, born and raised in Barbados but holding a British passport, is set to become available for England selection, in accordance with the ECB's new eligibility rules that reduced the minimum required residency period to three years in November.
Archer has generated plenty of excitement with his all-round abilities in Twenty20 franchise leagues and for Sussex in first-class cricket, and Hussain, speaking during the 100 days-to-go World Cup celebrations, joined those calling for the 23-year-old to be fast-tracked into the England squad.
"World Cup's impact is very similar to an Olympics or Commonwealth Games – it brings people together"
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England's white-ball captain @Eoin16 says the 50-over tournament 'can boost the grassroots game'.
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"I don't like last-minute changes, but there is a special cricketer out there in Jofra Archer," he told BBC Radio 5. "If you've got an opportunity to improve your squad before a World Cup you must take it."
Hussain believed Archer's inclusion would also create more competition for places. “You’ll have the likes of [Liam] Plunkett and [David] Willey who will be just looking over their shoulder," he told Sky Sports News. "That’s only going to be good for the squad if you’re constantly being pushed.”
England underwent a revolution as an ODI team after a disappointing 2015 World Cup campaign. They changed their approach, brought in limited-overs specialists, and created a formidable outfit that is currently at the top of the MRF Tyres ICC ODI Team Rankings.
Hussain said they were favourites to win the trophy, but warned the side against "freezing" in the later stages of the tournament. "They’re favourites, and I reckon they’ll get through to the knockout stages,” he said.
“But you look at the Champions Trophy (in 2017), where they got through to the semi-final at Cardiff, and suddenly, against Pakistan, they just froze a little bit. That’s going to be the key to this side, whether Eoin Morgan (the England captain) can set his side up not to freeze in a knockout game as favourites. I think they’re smarter now.
“For me, the best two sides on paper are England and India, but, as we saw with the Champions Trophy, so many sides could win this tournament.”