World Cup 2019 | Jofra Archer excluded from England’s preliminary 15-man squad

England have announced their 15-man preliminary squad for the upcoming World Cup, led by Eoin Morgan. The exclusion of Jofra Archer from the preliminary squad made the headlines, but the all-rounder, alongside Chris Jordan, has been roped in the 17-man squad for the bilateral ODI series against Pakistan. The battle is not lost for Archer and Jordan as they will be in the race for the World Cup spot depending on their run in the series against Pakistan. 

England will shortlist their final 15-man squad after the conclusion of Pakistan series, which ends on May 19. Archer was tipped to be a vital cog in the English line-up, whose only weak-link lies in the bowling. The high-on-confidence side have immense firepower in their batting department, but the same confidence goes for a toss when it comes to bowling. They have dominated this format in the last few years and their batting has had a major role to play behind this supremacy. 

The current pace attack has Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Liam Plunkett, David Willey and Tom Currran. Joe Denly’s inclusion has been somewhat surprising, who is the third spinner after Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid. This is the first time when, Archer, who was born in Barbados, will be available for England selection after the completed his three-year qualification to become a British citizen on March 17. 

"In line with ICC regulations, we have to name a preliminary squad of 15 for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup before April 23. However, all 17 players named in the Royal London ODIs against Pakistan can stake a claim to be in the final 15-man squad, finalised at the end of that series,” ECB's national selector Ed Smith said, reported Cricbuzz. 

"The selection panel has been impressed with Jofra Archer's performances in domestic and franchise cricket. He is a very talented and exciting cricketer," Smith said.

Jordan last played an ODI back in September 2016, when his impressive run in the shortest format of the game against Sri Lanka and West Indies propelled his selection for the Pakistan series. 

"Chris Jordan, a regular in IT20 squads over the past few years, has continued to develop as a cricketer - as we saw in the IT20s in the West Indies. He fully deserves his return to the ODI squad," Smith said.

Preliminary squad for world cup: Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (c), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Alex Hales, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, David Willey.

Squad for Pakistan ODIs:Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (c), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Alex Hales, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, David Willey, Jofra Archer, Chris Jordan.