Jofra Archer has been included in England’s squad for the T20 World Cup, even though he missed the final two Ashes Tests. The fast bowler is still recovering from a side strain but has been named in a provisional 15-man squad for the tournament in India and Sri Lanka in February and March.
Archer’s return is a major boost for England, with the 30-year-old regarded as their leading white-ball fast bowler. He picked up nine wickets in the Ashes and also scored a half-century in the third Test before being ruled out due to injury. England believes he is on course to be fully fit in time for the World Cup.
Jamie Smith has been left out of both the World Cup squad and the preceding tour of Sri Lanka following a difficult Ashes campaign. Jordan Cox also misses out, despite being the leading run-scorer in last year’s Hundred.
One of the biggest winners is Josh Tongue. The pace bowler, who has never played a white-ball international, earns a call-up after impressing in the Ashes, where he took 12 wickets in just two Tests. However, he has been picked only for the T20 setup and not the ODI squad.
With England losing the Ashes series 3-0 inside the first three Tests, the T20 World Cup could offer fresh clarity on the futures of head coach Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key.
England will play three ODIs and three T20Is in Sri Lanka as preparation for the World Cup. Their campaign begins against Nepal in Mumbai on February 8.
The ODI series is also crucial for England’s qualification hopes for the 2027 50-over World Cup. Only the top nine teams in the rankings qualify automatically, and England is currently placed eighth.
Despite the tight schedule, captain Harry Brook leads a near full-strength group. England leaves Australia after the fifth Ashes Test on January 9 and arrives in Sri Lanka on January 18, with the first ODI scheduled for January 22.
Several players involved in the Ashes, including Brook, Archer, Tongue, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, and Will Jacks, are expected to feature in England’s white-ball plans in the new year.
Archer has been named only for the World Cup and will not take part in the Sri Lanka tour, with Carse providing pace cover for that series.
England squad for ODIs in Sri Lanka:
The England squad includes Harry Brook, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, and Luke Wood.
England squad for T20s in Sri Lanka and the T20 World Cup:
The England squad includes Harry Brook, Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer (World Cup only), Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse (Sri Lanka tour only), Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Ben Duckett, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, and Luke Wood.
Smith, who has opened for England in their last nine ODIs, has struggled for form, managing just one half-century in eight innings during the Ashes. In contrast, Tongue’s rise has been rapid following his strong Test performances.
Ben Duckett remains in both squads despite a tough Ashes and is likely to continue opening alongside Crawley in the ODIs as England looks to build combinations for the future.
Joe Root, who turns 35 this week, will feature only in the ODI series before likely returning to action in the home summer. Will Jacks, recovered from a broken finger, returns as one of several spin options, alongside Adil Rashid, Liam Dawson, Rehan Ahmed, and Bethell.
England are placed in Group C of the T20 World Cup along with the West Indies, Bangladesh, Nepal, and tournament debutants Italy. All their group matches will be played in Kolkata and Mumbai.
A top-two finish would take England into the second round, where tougher opponents such as New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka could await, with the top two from that stage progressing to the semi-finals.
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