Archer Makes England Squad for T20 World Cup 2026
Jofra Archer returns as England names T20 World Cup squad, including breakout star Josh Tongue, as Harry Brook leads the team in India & Sri Lanka.
Despite missing the last two Ashes Tests, Jofra Archer has been included in England's T20 World Cup squad.
The fast bowler is recovering from a side strain and has been named in the 15-man provisional squad for the tournament in India and Sri Lanka in February and March.
Jamie Smith has been left out of the World Cup squad and the preceding tour of Sri Lanka after a poor performance in the Ashes series, and Jordan Cox also misses out.
Fast bowler Josh Tongue, who has never played a white-ball international for England, has been rewarded for his Ashes performances with a place in the World Cup squad.
After losing the Ashes series early by losing the first three Tests against Australia, the World Cup could provide another indication of the future of head coach Brendon McCullum and cricket director Rob Key.
England will play three One Day Internationals and three T20 matches in Sri Lanka as preparation for the World Cup, which they will begin against Nepal in Mumbai on February 8.
These ODIs are crucial for England as they attempt to qualify directly for the 50-over World Cup in 2027. The top nine teams in the rankings will secure a place in the tournament in South Africa, and England are currently eighth.
Despite the quick turnaround after the Ashes, captain Harry Brook will lead a full-strength squad. England will depart Australia after the fifth Test on January 9 and arrive in Sri Lanka on January 18. The first ODI is on January 22.
Brook, Archer, Tongue, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley and Will Jacks were all involved in the Ashes and are expected to feature in England's white-ball matches in the new year.
The 30-year-old Archer is England's leading white-ball fast bowler. After impressing in the Ashes, he was ruled out of the series due to a side injury sustained in the third Test in Adelaide. England believe he will recover in time for the World Cup, but he is not in the squad for the ODI and T20 matches in Sri Lanka. Brydon Carse will provide cover for that tour. England squad for ODIs in Sri Lanka: Harry Brook, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Luke Wood.
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England squad for T20s in Sri Lanka and the World Cup: 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, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood.
Smith has been England's ODI opener for the last nine matches, although he hasn't played a T20 since June. The 25-year-old struggled in the ODIs against New Zealand before the Ashes, and then managed only one half-century in eight innings against Australia.
In contrast, the 28-year-old Tongue has been England's breakout star of the Ashes, taking 12 wickets in his two Tests. He is in the T20 squad, but not the ODI squad.
Cox, the leading run-scorer in last year's Hundred, may feel hard done by to miss out on a place in the squad. Tom Banton has been selected as middle-order batting cover.
Duckett is in both squads despite a difficult Ashes series and looks set to continue his Test opening partnership with Crawley in ODIs as England look for a combination that can prepare them for the 50-over World Cup. Crawley has played eight One Day Internationals, the last of which was in the West Indies in December 2023, which was also his last List A match.
Root, who turns 35 on Tuesday, might have been a candidate for a rest after the Ashes, yet he is travelling to Sri Lanka solely for the ODIs. His next cricket will likely be in the domestic summer.
All-rounder Jacks was ruled out of the New Zealand tour due to a broken finger and has returned to both squads as one of several spin options in subcontinent conditions.
Jacks joins Adil Rashid, Liam Dawson, Rehan Ahmed, and Bethell among the slow bowlers. Along with Nepal, England have been drawn in Group C of the T20 World Cup alongside West Indies, Bangladesh, and tournament debutants Italy. All their matches will be played in Kolkata and Mumbai.
If Brook's team finishes in the top two, they will progress to the second round group which could include New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The top two teams from that group will advance to the semi-finals.
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