Jofra Archer wants to avoid overthinking about World Cup dream despite ECB's latest move

ECB cut short the residency period and Archer will be available to play for England in 2019.

Jofra Archer could miss upcoming BBL  | Getty Images

Barbados-born-England seamer Jofra Archer is delighted with the fact that England & Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) latest change allowed him to be available for the national selection as early as 2019, but he doesn’t want to “think too far down the line” at the moment.

With the ECB reducing their residency period from seven years to three, Archer, who born in Barbados, moved to England in 2015, has a great chance to make it to the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup squad, as he was earlier only eligible for international selection after 2022.

Archer told ESPNCricinfo, “I'm a bit excited, however, that doesn't guarantee I'll be selected this year or for anything upcoming as yet. If it happens, it happens, but I don't want to think too far down the line. I've still got lots of cricket to play even before then so it makes no sense dwelling on that.”

The 23-year-old hogged headlines ever since bursting onto the scene in the Big Bash League, where he set the stage blazing with his accurate fast bowling and hard-hitting lower down the order. He has also made a name for himself in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Sussex.

While the new rule applies from 1 January 2019, Archer will have to complete his 210-day stint in England before being eligible for national selection, which will be completed at mid-March, and the pacer doesn't want to overthink about the World Cup dream.  

He further added on the same, “It doesn't make any sense chasing it (the World Cup dream), as it's only been two days. There's still lots of time before the air changes. I'm still not fully qualified as yet; I still have to do my days. If it happens, it happens but I probably won't try to overthink it too much. England are doing really well in the Tests and ODIs, they're doing well in everything and I think it will be hard to squeeze my way into the team. They are the No.1 team in the world and even if I am in the squad and not the team I think it would be a great experience to be around all those players.”

Having been retained by Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL and Rajasthan Royals in IPL, the young pace gun might have to miss domestic cricket during the period and that could hamper his World Cup chances, as all teams have to submit their interim World Cup squads by April 23, 2019.

Archer signed off by saying, “I'm not too sure [about skipping the Big Bash]. I haven't been to Australia as of yet. I don't know how the CEO would react. I haven't asked yet. Obviously, everything just happened only two days ago, so there's still some time to do some thinking and to really see what takes priority.”

(With ESPNCricinfo Inputs)

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 03 Dec, 2018

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