Jofra Archer will travel with England’s Cricket World Cup squad to India as a reserve – with the fast bowler to step up his rehab after an elbow injury ruled him out of the Ashes

  • Jofra Archer has been named as a reserve in England’s Cricket World Cup squad
  • The bowler will continue his fitness work in India and could feature in the latter stages
  • Archer missed the entire summer due to an elbow stress fracture

Jofra Archer will travel to the upcoming Cricket World Cup with England as a reserve.

The fast bowler did not feature at all all summer after suffering a stress fracture in his right elbow.

Archer missed the entire Ashes series but bowled the nets for England’s One Day International against New Zealand at the Oval last week.

The 28-year-old was absent from the 15-man squad for the World Cup in India on Sunday, but England selector Luke Wright has confirmed he will travel with the team.

He said: “Jofra Archer is traveling to India with the squad. He is one of the reserves, but we also have to take care of him and concentrate on his rehabilitation.’

Jofra Archer has been named as reserve for the 15-man England squad that will travel to India for the Cricket World Cup

The fast bowler missed the entire English summer due to a stress fracture in his right elbow

The fast bowler missed the entire English summer due to a stress fracture in his right elbow

Archer was one of the stars of England’s first World Cup win in 2019, toppling the super in the final against New Zealand.

He has been plagued by injuries ever since. He did not feature for England for 22 months between 2021 and 2023.

However, the Barbados-born bowler is determined to return to international action.

Ahead of the ODI series against South Africa earlier this year, he said: “I know when I’ll be fully fit, I don’t think there’s much that can stop me, it’s just a matter of when that would be.”

Ongoing problems with his elbow have prevented Archer from trying to prevent Australia from retaining the Ashes, but it is possible he could play a role in the World Cup.

In August, selector Wright believed it was possible for Archer to play in the final stages of the tournament starting in India next month but still urged caution.

Archer was a key part of the England team that won the Cricket World Cup on home soil in 2019

Archer was a key part of the England team that won the Cricket World Cup on home soil in 2019

Injury problems have severely limited his involvement with England, with the 28-year-old missing 22 months of international cricket between 2021 and 2023.

Injury problems have severely limited his involvement with England, with the 28-year-old missing 22 months of international cricket between 2021 and 2023.

He said: ‘There must be a duty of care on Jof. We know how desperate we all are to have him, but we have to do right by him too.

“He’s been very unlucky with these injuries, so we have to get it right.”

After initially not being selected, Harry Brook has been included in the 15-man squad as back spasms forced Jason Roy to miss the entire 3-1 win against New Zealand in one day.

In the first match of the tournament, England will take on the Black Caps in Ahmedabad on Thursday, October 5.

England World Cup squad

Jos Buttler (Lancashire – captain); Moeen Ali (Warwickshire); Gus Atkinson (Surrey); Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire); Harry Brook (Yorkshire); Sam Curran (Surrey); Liam Livingstone (Lancashire); Dawid Malan (Yorkshire); Adil Rashid (Yorkshire); Joe Wortel (Yorkshire); Ben Stokes (Durham); Reece Topley (Surrey); David Willey (Northamptonshire); Mark Wood (Durham); Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)