CRICKET: Recovering Archer in England squad for T20 World Cup

England include Jofra Archer in their provisional T20 World Cup squad despite his Ashes injury, with Harry Brook leading the side as they prepare for the Sri Lanka tour and World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

REUTERS

December 30, 2025

Cricket - The Ashes - Australia v England - Third Test - Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia - December 19, 2025 England's Jofra Archer in action REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/File Photo

Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/Reuters

LONDON – England included fast bowler Jofra Archer in their provisional squad for the Twenty20 World Cup on Tuesday, despite a side strain that ended his Ashes campaign in Australia earlier this month.

The 15-member squad for the World Cup, scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7, also features Nottinghamshire seamer Josh Tongue, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a statement.

Starting January 22, England will play three one-day internationals and an equal number of T20 matches in Sri Lanka before heading into the World Cup.

“Sussex fast bowler Jofra Archer is included in the provisional T20 World Cup squad but will miss the tour of Sri Lanka as he continues his rehabilitation with the England medical team following the left-side strain sustained during the third Ashes Test in Adelaide earlier this month,” the ECB said.

Batters Jamie Smith and Jordan Cox have been dropped from the squad, while seamer Saqib Mahmood also did not retain his place.

England selected Ben Duckett for both the T20 and ODI squads, despite the opener’s ongoing run drought in the Ashes series.

The Harry Brook-led team will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Nepal in Mumbai on February 8.

Currently 1-3 down in the ongoing Ashes series against Australia, England’s performance in the T20 World Cup could influence the future of their leadership, including coach Brendon McCullum and team director Rob Key.

England T20 Squad for Sri Lanka Tour and World Cup:

Harry Brook (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer (World Cup only), Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse (Sri Lanka tour only), Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood

England ODI Squad for Sri Lanka Tour:

Harry Brook (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Luke Wood

-Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; Editing by Saad Sayeed/Reuters