Jofra Archer Named as Traveling Reserve in England's ICC ODI World Cup Squad

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has named fast bowler Jofra Archer as their only traveling reserve in the squad for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 in India starting October 5. Archer is recovering from an elbow stress fracture and England feel it will be ideal for the pacer to continue his rehabilitation with the squad.

“The best thing for Jofra is to travel with the team and keep working with his rehab and being around the physios and the team. We are doing all we can to get him ready to be as good as he can be,” England selector Luke Wright said in a statement on Monday.

“If there was an injury he might be able to replace at the back end of the tournament but obviously we are still working on his fitness day-by-day and we’ll have to keep accessing that,” he added.

Archer hasn’t been picked in England’s world cup squad after failing to prove fitness in time. He was part of their 2019 world cup winning campaign.

Meanwhile, England have dropped Jason Roy from their final squad and have included Harry Brook instead.

Wright said the decision showed the ‘ruthless side of sport’ and Roy is gutted at the development.

“It’s not a decision we’ve taken lightly,” said Wright. “In the early squad, we had him down for opening the batting with Jonny Bairstow in the World Cup… but things happen in sport, injuries happen.

“Everyone was told ‘Look, this is the 15 we’re looking to take to the World Cup’, but unfortunately that’s the ruthless side of sport isn’t it? It’s not the nice side of sport that changes do have to be made. As you can imagine, he’s absolutely gutted and I wouldn’t expect anything else. I feel for him, as I feel for anyone you leave out,” said Wright.

However, Wright added that Roy is in the line should England need replacements.

“We certainly haven’t ruled him out. For Jason now, I’m sure he’s got some thinking to do over the initial disappointment, but we’ve made clear that if there’s an injury at the top of the order, there’s definitely the option for him to come in as the reserve,” he said.