Steve Harmison on the Decision to Choose Archer as a Reserve Player

Former England cricketer Steve Harmison applauded the selection of Gus Atkinson for the Cricket World Cup but cautioned against sending Jofra Archer as a traveling reserve to India. He answered, “It would be cruel.”

Atkinson, a 25-year-old Surrey fast bowler, has had an impressive start to his international career, taking six wickets in his first two T20 matches, including a 4-wicket haul for 20 runs on his debut against New Zealand in Manchester last week. However, his inclusion in England’s preliminary 15-man World Cup squad came as a surprise.

He’s fast and has bowled effectively for Surrey this year, according to Harmison. He put in the work to earn the right to be chosen, and England felt they needed more speed when they traveled to India, so I believe he was an easy option.

Atkinson’s ability to bowl with variety and in accordance with the characteristics of the pitch was also appreciated by Harmison, who acknowledged that it was a special trait of his.

Harmison stated, “He’s bowled brilliantly in the Hundred and has clocked 95mph, but I believe if he bowls in the mid-to-late 80s during the World Cup, let’s not leap and say, “Why’s he not bowling 95 mph?” because I think it’s a different sort of game, different type of format, and different type of pitch.

And as a result, he probably won’t reach the speeds of Mark Wood and maybe Jofra Archer, the speaker said. He’s not as swift as they are, in my opinion. However, based on what I’ve seen so far, I believe the youngster has some natural skill and will succeed on Indian pitches.

Jofra Archer, who bowled the crucial Super Over in the final match against New Zealand at Lord’s, was the match’s hero with the bat as England won the 2019 World Cup. However, he has been sidelined from cricket for the last three years owing to injury, and he is only now preparing to play again after suffering a stress fracture of the elbow in the Indian Premier League in May.

He also criticized Jofra Archer’s selection as a reserve player, calling it unnecessary. Jofra has to make a return in international cricket, according to Harmison, and playing in the World Cup right away would be unfair to him.

“I believe it to be rather harsh. I’m not even going to take him. I believe Jofra has to go back into cricket, potentially outside of England, and just go enjoy playing again, said Harmison.

“For someone who has been out for so long, getting back on the pitch during a World Cup is just asking too much of them. It’s unfair to him, in my opinion. Although he can change the course of a game, I believe it would be a little much to take him on as a traveling reserve without any cricket.

“England have decided they’re going to try and do that, and I hope for Jofra’s sake he doesn’t get thrown into the heat of the battle,” he said in closing.