Back in business: Jofra Archer has been named in England’s squad ahead of South Africa series
(Picture: Getty Images)Jofra Archer is in line for his first international appearance in almost two years after being named in England’s ODI squad for the series in South Africa in the New Year.
Archer last played for England in a T20 against India in March 2021 and has been beset by back and elbow injuries since.
The fast bowler took part in a training camp with the England Lions in the UAE last month as part of his rehab and featured in a warm-up game against the Test side. He is due to make his return to competitive action next month for MI Cape Town in the SA20, South Africa’s new T20 franchise tournament.
England have named a strong 14-man squad for the three-match series, which starts on January 27 and finishes on February 1.
Reece Topley is set to be fit after the ankle injury that ruled him out of the T20 World Cup triumph on the eve of the tournament, while Harry Brook is awarded his first ODI call-up after sensational T20 and Test tours of Pakistan.
There is also a recall for Ben Duckett, who has not played ODI cricket since 2016 but also excelled in Pakistan, while opener Jason Roy keeps his place despite failing to deliver an upturn in form in last month’s whitewash defeat to Australia. Liam Livingstone misses out with the knee injury that curtailed his Pakistan Test series.
England’s more senior multi-format players - Joe Root and Mark Wood - have been rested ahead of February’s Tests in New Zealand, while Jonny Bairstow is still recovering from the freak leg injury he suffered when slipping on a golf course in September. Ben Stokes has retired from ODI cricket, though head coach Matthew Mott has already said he hopes the all-rounder may reverse that decision in time for next year’s World Cup defence in India.
The three matches in South Africa are being squeezed into six days during a break in the SA20 schedule in order to ensure player availability, given large numbers on both sides are due to feature in the competition.
England were hammered 3-0 by Australia when last in ODI action in November, but that series began just days after Jos Buttler’s side had won the T20 World Cup and the captain said he was “not fussed at all about the results”.
The assignment in South Africa appears rather more important, coming just nine months out from the start of the World Cup.
England men’s ODI squad: Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Moeen Ali (Warwickshire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Sam Curran (Surrey), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Dawid Malan (Yorkshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Phil Salt (Lancashire), Olly Stone (Nottinghamshire), Reece Topley (Surrey), David Willey (Northamptonshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
