England's selectors have delivered a major surprise in their squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, recalling the injury-plagued Jofra Archer while dropping wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith following a difficult Ashes tour in Australia.
Ashes Form Costs Smith His Spot
The decision to leave out Jamie Smith is a direct consequence of his challenging time during the recent Ashes series. While Test performances in Australia are not a typical measure for a short-format tournament set for Sri Lanka and India in February, Smith's dramatic loss of form proved decisive.
He managed an average of just 19.85 with the bat and faced struggles behind the stumps, a stark contrast to his explosive 60 from 26 balls in his last T20 outing against the West Indies in June. Smith was rested after that due to a heavy workload, but his subsequent difficulties have seen him excluded entirely.
Archer's Fitness Gamble and Tongue's Rise
In a bold move, pace bowler Jofra Archer has been handed a spot in the 16-man squad. This inclusion comes with the expectation that his recovery from a left side strain, sustained during the Ashes, will be complete in time. Archer, who played the first three Tests before breaking down, faces a tight timeline to be ready for England's first group game on February 8.
Brydon Carse has been named as his understudy for the preceding bilateral tour of Sri Lanka, ready to step in if Archer's comeback hits any snags.
Meanwhile, uncapped quick Josh Tongue's stock has soared in the opposite direction to Smith's. Impressive performances in Adelaide and Melbourne have earned him a call-up. Although he has never played white-ball cricket for England, Tongue finished as the top wicket-taker in last season's Hundred competition, taking 14 wickets in just six games, and boasts an impressive T20 strike-rate of a wicket every 12.5 balls.
Other Squad Notes and Campaign Outlook
Ben Duckett has been retained despite a taxing Ashes series and recent public scrutiny, with management believing his ability against spin will be useful on the sub-continent. Test opener Zak Crawley is also included in the ODI squad for Sri Lanka, despite a lack of recent List A cricket.
Harry Brook will captain the side for his first World Cup campaign, leading a familiar group including Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, and Adil Rashid. England are in Group C alongside Bangladesh, West Indies, Italy, and Nepal.
Managing director Rob Key and head coach Brendon McCullum will be hoping for a strong tournament performance to solidify their positions following the Ashes loss.
England T20 squad (Sri Lanka tour and World Cup): H Brook (c), R Ahmed, J Archer (WC only), T Banton, J Bethell, J Buttler, B Carse (SL only), S Curran, L Dawson, B Duckett, W Jacks, J Overton, A Rashid, P Salt, J Tongue, L Wood.
England ODI Squad v Sri Lanka: H Brook (c), R Ahmed, T Banton, J Bethell, J Buttler, B Carse, Z Crawley, S Curran, L Dawson, B Duckett, W Jacks, J Overton, A Rashid, J Root, L Wood.
