Josh Tong, who shone with the ball during the Ashes, has been called up to England’s preliminary T20 World Cup squad.
Jofra Archer is still battling his way back from injury. There is considerable concern over whether this quick bowler will be available for the T20 World Cup. Nevertheless, England has kept him in consideration. Josh Tong, who is awaiting his debut in colorful whites, has also been named in the preliminary World Cup squad.
On Tuesday, England announced a 15-player preliminary squad for the T20 World Cup. This team will play a three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka, although Archer will not feature as he continues his rehabilitation.
Before the Sri Lanka T20 series, England will also play three ODIs. Archer will miss those as well, and after the ODI series, he will join the T20 campaign from Braydon Cars. However, he has not been included in the official T20 World Cup squad yet.
England’s World Cup campaign will begin on February 8 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai against Nepal. It is expected that Archer will join the team in India ahead of this match.
Archer suffered a side strain during the Adelaide Test against Australia, ruling him out for the rest of the series. In the first innings of that match, the right-arm pacer took five wickets for 53 runs. Across the first two Tests of the series, he claimed a total of nine wickets in three matches.
Josh Tong made a notable contribution to England’s memorable victory in Melbourne, taking seven wickets in the match, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings. His performance in Adelaide, where he also took five wickets, likely secured his place in the limited-overs squad.
Having played eight Tests for England, Tong has featured in 21 T20 matches, claiming 29 wickets at an average of 19.03 in the format.
In England’s most recent T20 series in New Zealand, Ben Duckett was rested but has been recalled for the World Cup squad. Will Jacks, who was absent from that tour, is also included in both the World Cup and Sri Lanka series squads.
Opener Jack Crawley has been brought back into the ODI squad, having last played for England in an ODI against the West Indies two years ago.
Pacers Jamie Smith, Jordan Cox, and Kanui, who are recovering from injuries, have not been included in any squad.
Seven players from the ongoing Ashes series in Australia are in the squad for the ODI series against Sri Lanka. The fifth and final Ashes Test begins this Sunday in Sydney. Afterward, England will return to the UK and depart for Sri Lanka on January 18.
The ODI series in Sri Lanka, another co-host of the T20 World Cup, will start on January 22, with the next two matches on January 24 and 27 in Colombo. The three T20s will be held in Pallekele on January 30, February 1, and February 3.
T20 World Cup preliminary squad and Sri Lanka series squad
Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer (World Cup only), Tom Banton, Jack Buttler, Jacob Bethell, Braydon Cars (Sri Lanka only), Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tong, Luke Wood.
Sri Lanka ODI squad
Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Braydon Cars, Jack Crawley, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Luke Wood.
