England coach Matthew Mott said Test captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Jofra Archer will be given every chance to prove their fitness before next year’s Twenty20 World Cup.
All-rounder Stokes, 32, had knee surgery last month, while Archer has been hampered by a series of injuries.
“Ben, aside from his incredible match-winning ability in every department, gives us that ability to have a seam bowler in your top six that gives you so many options with your team balance,” Mott said.
“In terms of Jofra, you’ve just got absolute box-office pace, change of pace, bowl any over in the innings.
Bowl your Super Over, bowl your last over when they need to. Him on the park is massive, everyone would agree with that.”
ECB hires GB hockey’s
Barney as performance chief
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Wednesday it had appointed Ed Barney as its new performance director following his work in a similar role in field hockey.
Barney will replace Mo Bobat, who has left the ECB to become director of cricket with Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League, in March.
The 41-year-old previously worked in talent identification at the ECB from 2010-13 and he
has spent the last seven years with England and Great Britain Hockey.
England’s Ben Stokes during practice in Ahmedabad, India, on Wednesday. (Reuters)
