Barbados-born English paceman Jofra Archer is happy with the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) latest amendment in the residential policy even if it doesn’t guarantee him of selection in England’s squad for the upcoming 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup at home.
With the ECB slashing its residency criteria from seven years to three for players from 1 January, the highly-rated 23-year-old pace sensation will now be eligible in March for England selection, but Archer feels that he might have to wait to play for England at international level.
Jofra, who is currently in the ongoing Big Bash League for the Hobart Hurricanes, revealed that he hasn’t had any contact with the ECB after their recent move, and due to which the pacer doesn’t feel that he will be drafted immediately into the national squad after completing the national qualification period.
On Friday (January 11), Archer told cricket.com.au, “I feel great but that does not cement anything. It doesn’t guarantee I’ll play this year, next year or the year after, it just means that I could be.”
He continued, “It is good news – I thought I was going to have to wait another couple of years, but at the same time it does not determine that I’m going to get picked this year or next year. I might still have to wait a long time. We’ll see.”
Meanwhile, England might have possibly got their winning squad for the showpiece 50-over event at home after winning 41 of their last 54 matches under Eoin Morgan with a settled and supremely talented squad, and that makes them favorites for the World Cup 2019.
However, England selector Ed Smith had recently insisted that the body has not ruled out the prospect of selecting Archer in England’s World Cup squad, but at the moment they don’t want to make any comment on the same, as the pacer is currently serving the residency qualification period.
Smith said, “I’ve not spoken to Jofra. As it stands now, he was not available so we did not consider him for selection. As a selector, you try and keep things as simple as you possibly can: who is available and of those available, what’s the strongest possible squad? To be honest with you, I wouldn’t rule anything out. I don’t really believe in ruling things out.”
On the other hand, Jofra revealed that Barbados people suggested him to play for West Indies, but the young paceman doesn’t want to mess anything up by returning his berth country.
The youngster revealed, “Everyone knows how I got to the point that I am. A few people (in Barbados) – not my family – say I should play for the West Indies. But that ship's sailed.”
Archer signed off by saying, “They (Archer's family) are happy for me. As long as I'm happy, they're happy, it doesn't matter where I am or who I am. I don't want to mess anything up by going back to play for the West Indies, so I just have to wait.”
(With Cricket Australia Network Inputs)
