29 September 2023 , 08:17
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Nasser Hussain is glad to see Jofra Archer bowling again - but hopes the injury-plagued quick won't be risked at the Cricket World Cup.
Archer, 28, will travel to India as a reserve after missing out on Jos Buttler's 15-man squad for the tournament, which starts next week. The Sussex star played a crucial role in England's triumph on home soil four years ago - bowling the super over in their final victory against New Zealand - but has struggled with injuries since.
Archer picked up his most recent complaint, a lower back stress fracture, in May and is expected to be fully fit for the back end of the World Cup. Yet he will only eligible for selection if another bowler suffers an injury during the tournament.
Although Hussain thinks England were right to invite Archer on their World Cup tour, he hopes the current squad will stay injury free. The ex-captain told Mirror Sport: "Jofra, from what I've heard, is bowling well and got a lot of rhythm.
"He hasn't played much match cricket, which would be a concern. Obviously in a World Cup... I don't know where he could get any kind of match cricket. He'll just have to bowl in the nets. But it's a pretty good reserve to have. He's someone that knows India very well (from playing in the Indian Premier League) and knows those grounds.
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"I think it (including him) is the right thing to do by Jofra. After everything he's been through, to have him around and to give him something to play for is absolutely the right thing."
England fans are also concerned about the fitness of Ben Stokes, who struggled with a knee injury throughout the Ashes. The Test skipper was persuaded to come out of one-day international (ODI) retirement for the World Cup and clubbed a staggering 182 against New Zealand earlier this month. That is England's highest individual score in ODI cricket.
Stokes will be 36 by time the next ODI World Cup takes place in 2027 and is expected to retire from the format again after this year's tournament. But Hussain insists "only Ben knows" when he'll finally call it a day.
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"When we watch him bowl, we wince and think, 'He won't make it through this session or spell'. Then three months later, he's still bowling! I know now he's not (bowling) anymore and I'd be surprised if he bowls in this World Cup. He may, you never know with Ben.
"If (England) get to a World Cup final and the skipper needs four overs, you know what Stokes is like. He'll say, 'Yeah, I'll do that.' That's why he's where he is now - because he'll do anything for anyone. You just don't know. He's obviously not going to be the all-rounder he was, simply because his body and knee is failing him.
"I don't think it's easily fixable as well, it's not like he can just have an op - otherwise he'd have had that. He'll probably end up (being) a batter who bowls a few overs. But as we saw here against New Zealand, that's still pretty good!
"I know if I'm in the opposition in the World Cup semi-final and England are 20-2, you're happy that Stokes is retired. But as an England player, I'm happy that Stokes is going out for 20-2 in a World Cup semi-final. He soaks up pressure in big situations perfectly."
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is exclusively live on Sky Sports and NOW from 5th October.