England star Archer faces old West Indies mates – but could be without pace partner Wood
JOFRA ARCHER faces his old mates from the Caribbean today — but fears he will be without pace partner Mark Wood. Archer, 24, has the curious experience of hurling down bouncers against West Indies for the first time since qualifying for England this year. The Windies team includes some of his best mates from their […]
JOFRA ARCHER faces his old mates from the Caribbean today — but fears he will be without pace partner Mark Wood.
Archer, 24, has the curious experience of hurling down bouncers against West Indies for the first time since qualifying for England this year.
The Windies team includes some of his best mates from their days playing junior cricket in Barbados.
But Archer could be the only 90mph-plus bowler in Eoin Morgan’s line-up because Wood’s chronic ankle problem has flared up again.
The Durham speedster, 29, has experienced discomfort in his left ankle since Saturday’s win over Bangladesh — which is always a worry because Wood has had three operations on that ankle.
Dublin-born Morgan knows all about playing against the country of his birth — but appears to have managed as he averages an impressive 67.25 in five one-day internationals against Ireland.
England’s captain reckons Archer will find it odd opposing his friends but is more likely to be inspired than intimidated.
‘DIFFERENT FEEL’
He said: “I think it’s a moment where you re-affirm your decision but Jofra has come out the other side of every challenge he has faced so far and we’re not expecting anything majorly different.
“He has been consistent for a long period since he came to Sussex and it’s great he’s now in an England shirt.
“Being in that position myself, it does feel different playing against a side you could have potentially being playing for. The difference is the feel. When you play against guys you’ve known for a long time, it can feel like a club game against your mates, compared to playing against strangers.
“So leading into the game, there is a different feel . . . until you get out there.”
Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, who aggravated a bruised hip batting against Bangladesh, is fit to play a full part against the Windies.
Wood, whose 95.7mph thunderbolt last Saturday makes him the fastest bowler of the tournament, might not be risked because England still have another five group matches.
Morgan added: “I’m quite positive about Woody, it’s just soreness. If he doesn’t play, it’s not a big worry.
“He hasn’t bowled for a few days because of the weather so we’ll have to see how he is in the morning.
“If it’s still sore, we probably won’t risk him. We’ll have to manage him in the same way we have rested other bowlers at various times.
“But our bowling remains very strong. In the past two years, Chris Woakes has been the best seam bowler in the world in the first ten overs and no one mentions that.
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“It’s unbelievable, his control with the new ball.
“Liam Plunkett is the same. He’s the leading wicket-taker in the middle overs. If he was a spinner, you’d be shouting it from the rooftops.”
The Windies have a bunch of bowlers who Morgan describes as “massive” with 6ft 4in, 15st Oshane Thomas the fastest and most hostile.
