England all-rounder David Willey has questioned the potential fast-tracking of pacer Jofra Archer to the squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup on home soil.
West Indies born Archer is set to become eligible to play for England in the coming day and is being considered in the frame to make the World Cup squad.
Skipper Eoin Morgan had earlier left the door open for a potential Archer inclusion while head coach Trevor Bayliss has recently stated that the pacer could be handed an audition in England’s upcoming ODI clashes against Ireland and Pakistan.
Should Archer make the cut for England’s 15-man World Cup squad, he could be doing it at the expense of Willey who has been a peripheral figure of late for Morgan’s men in the 50-over format.
The 29-year-old all-rounder has now questioned the potential impact Archer’s late inclusion could have on a fairly settled and No1 ranked England ODI squad.
“It’s an interesting dilemma for the captain, coaches and selectors. It’s a group of players that have been together for three or four years now that have got us to No.1,” Willey was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.
Archer is firmly in contention for a World Cup spot.
“And there’s a reason for that. Whether someone should just walk in at the drop of a hat because they’re available, whether that’s the right thing, I don’t know,” he added.
Willey, who is currently a part of England’ T20I squad for the ongoing series against West Indies, believes he will have to perform to a high standard to stave off Archer’s challenge in the coming months.
“I don’t know Jofra particularly well. I couldn’t tell you if he’s got a particularly good record in white-ball cricket, to be honest. But it (tough selection decisions) is always part of professional sport. You have to accept these things and there’s one way to make sure it’s not you: by performing out in the middle,” he explained.
“I imagine every bowler sat in that dressing room will be trying to do that, to make sure it’s not them that gets left out should that happen. I think I went quite well last summer in English conditions but you never know.
“There is plenty of competition for places so you don’t quite know where they are going to go in the balance of the squad and bowling attack.”
Willey will be now hoping to put in a fine show when England take on West Indies in the second T20I at Basseterre on Friday. England currently lead the three-match series 1-0.
