Jofra Archer will qualify to play for England on 17 March but Mark Wood, while acknowledging the Barbados-born fast bowler represents a threat to his own World Cup spot, claims not to be losing any sleep over it at present. Wood was the pick of England’s attack on Friday as they suffered their first one-day international defeat to West Indies in four years, a thrilling 26-run win for the hosts at a teeming Kensington Oval that left the five-match series locked at 1-1 heading to Grenada. Figures of one for 38 from 10 overs scarcely did justice to the 29-year-old’s performance, following up a hostile opening burst that hit 93.9mph on the speedgun with a skilful display of reverse swing with the old ball that kept West Indies to 289 for six. That no England batsman could see the chase through to the end, as the stylish Shimron Hetmyer had done earlier for West Indies with an unbeaten 104 from 83 balls, was chiefly to blame; in the field, Eoin Morgan’s side were impressive. Wood may have shone here but is mindful his wickets column is too sparse. His 37 one-day caps have returned 35 victims and, with England having made contact with the much-hyped Archer in advance of his qualification, the Durham man wants more. “I am clear on my role but at the same time I don’t think I have fulfilled it as I would like to,” Wood said. “My wickets-to-game ratio is still down so I’d like to improve that. “Joe Root keeps saying little things to us, like: ‘Don’t worry the wickets will come, right now you’re getting wickets for other people.’ I think trying to help people at the other end and creating pressure for others is what I’ve done well over the past couple of games.” On Archer, whose star has risen in Twenty20 cricket but remains relatively untested in the 50-over format, Wood added: “I am one of the guys under threat but I wouldn’t say that night and day I’m up worried about Archer’s role. It is not really talked about in the dressing room. I’d be stupid to think that if I didn’t put in the hard yards that my place wouldn’t be up for grabs, because he bowls quick as well.” Morgan was asked after the defeat whether Wood’s performance had cemented his place but the captain appears to be keen on some creative tension, simply insisting “there is a lot of cricket to be played” before the provisional World Cup squad is submitted on 23 April, even if, in reality, this is the remaining three one‑dayers of this tour. Chris Woakes, though too modest to call himself England’s one-day attack leader, is a proven wicket-taker at both ends of the innings but sat out Friday’s match as he continues to manage a chronic knee problem. This need for this immediate rest after playing 48 hours earlier could raise alarm bells going into a World Cup that features nine group games. But Morgan said: “He could have played but his risk of being injured would have been high. We’re not pushing him to play two games in three days because down the line we won’t be playing two in three days – the World Cup is a different kettle of fish.” A similar quick turnaround takes place next week with matches on Monday and Wednesday at the coastal national stadium in Grenada, before which Morgan has ordered his players to come up with solutions for the threat of Sheldon Cottrell. The left-arm quick, a private in the Jamaican defence force who celebrates his victims with a military salute, broke into the West Indies squad after Shannon Gabriel’s ban and a back injury to Kemar Roach, but dismissed five batsmen on Friday. Morgan, removed by Cottrell for 70, said: “It was my first time facing him and the same for others. We spoke about him before the game, hopefully we’ll get better as the series progresses. Left-arm swing bowlers don’t come along too often. It’s good prep for us.”<doc-sep>ENGLAND TOUR OF WEST INDIES, 2019 Jofra comparisons spur on Wood, Plunkett by Rob Johnston • Last updated on Plunkett is less effective than he was in 2017 which is why there is talk now about his place. © AFP Quite often, a player's stock rises most when they are out of a team rather than when they are in it and that's certainly been the case with Jofra Archer. Ever since the ECB changed their rules around residency last year, there has been so much anticipation for when Barbados-born Archer pulls on the three lions of England that it's difficult to see how he could possibly live up to the billing. A shoe-in for the World Cup. The Ashes, too. A player capable of elevating England's play single-handedly. Those players who are currently playing against West Indies have been operating under this added pressure. Whenever a fast-bowler has been put up in front of the media, questions about Archer have not been far away. What do they think of him? Do they fear for their place once he is eligible for England in March? Is there space for him in the squad? In January, Eoin Morgan said England would be open-minded about picking the 23 year-old for the World Cup. The message was clear. They are not ruling it out. It would be surprising if England's incumbent fast-bowlers were not suffering from some form of paranoia. Archer's soon-to-be eligibility has certainly raised the stakes for Mark Wood, Liam Plunkett, Tom Curran and David Willey in this series. Any sign of vulnerability, any indication of a drop off in intensity, any poor performance will be scrutinised in light of Archer's pending eligibility. Would he have done better? Would he have bowled quicker? Would England be better with him than without him? This is understandable. The Sussex all-rounder is such a talent and has proved himself a star in the making in the IPL and the Big Bash. He's genuinely quick, he smashes the ball miles and he's brilliant in the field. He looks to have it all. On the basis of probability, he is likely to be a huge a success at the top level but he hasn't played a game of international cricket in his life. His possible impact is mere speculation. The jury is not so much out as not even in session yet. However, Plunkett looks the one member of England's squad most vulnerable. He has played the enforcer role in ODI cricket for much of the last three years and he has done an excellent job. His modus operandi has been simple but effective: consistently bash out a back of a length with a variety of full pace deliveries, cutters and slower balls. It's not one trick pony stuff by any means. Plunkett is far too skilful and far too quick for that. But he has a role and he has done it to the tune of 53 wickets from his last 30 matches. But it is also a role that Archer was made for too. Last year, Plunkett was less effective than he was in 2017 which is why there is talk now about his place. Partly that was because his 2017 was so good - averaging two wickets a game - that it would be hard for anyone to replicate, let alone a 33 year-old. Injuries limited his appearances too and there is also a thought that he has lost pace which is backed up by CricViz stats which show he has been generally down on speed over the past year. Despite playing for the Melbourne Stars in the recent Big Bash, his performance in the first match of this series was rusty. He conceded 54 runs from six overs and bowled too many poor balls which went the distance. It was not an outing which quietened questions about his place. If anything, it raised them. And this close to a World Cup is not a good time to have your position cast in doubt. The Surrey fast-bowler isn't the only one under pressure. All England's quicks are, because no matter how good their batsmen have been since the last World Cup, the feeling lingers that the bowlers can be vulnerable, particularly on good pitches. Collectively, they didn't bowl poorly in game one but they still went for 360 runs. Overall, England's attack is not as good as India's, their main challenger in the summer, and that is why, for now, Archer is talked up so fervently. Yet Morgan is nothing if not consistent. Under his leadership, England have been planning for this World Cup for nearly four years. Although he has spoken about Archer, the indications are that it would take a lot for Morgan to move away from the players who have served him so well of late. Archer is an unknown quantity. Plunkett, Wood and Woakes are not and knee jerk reactions are not the captain's bag. Nevertheless, England's bowlers had questions to answer after the first match in Barbados. They responded well enough here, on an admittedly more helpful surface, with better performance although 16 extras will not have pleased Morgan. Wood bowled quickly during an excellent new ball spell, clocking 93.1mph, and found some welcome reverse swing later on. He was unlucky to end up with just one wicket but his ten overs, costing less than four runs an over, were a statement. Archer might be quick. Olly Stone might be quick when fit. But right now, Wood is just as quick and skilful as anyone. Plunkett also responded to his poor showing on Wednesday with a much better effort, mixing up his deliveries smartly and hitting the pitch hard. His dismissal of John Campbell, caught at mid-on attempting a pull shot which hit high up on the bat, was vintage Plunkett and came at a vital time, just as West Indies openers were looking to cut loose. Adil Rashid was arguably the pick of the bowlers but, strangely, only bowled six overs in all. Curran, selected in place of the rested Woakes, had a more difficult day. He dished up a number of full tosses late on in West Indies' innings which Shimron Hetmyer gorged upon and conceded 23 runs from his last two overs which was more or less the difference between the two sides. It was not a day which will have done his World Cup chances much good and Woakes will probably come back into the team in Grenada. Despite the improvement in England's bowling display, and some fine fielding to back it up, Hetmyer's brilliant unbeaten century propelled West Indies to a decent total on a tricky surface. It was still a total the tourists' batsmen should have been able to knock off. Had they not collapsed from 228 for 4 to 263 all out inside eight overs, they would have done too. We all know how good England's batting is normally, notwithstanding this defeat, but the bowlers needed a boost. Individually, they have been compared to Archer and, in many eyes, been found wanting while the team's collective quality with the ball has been called into question at various times of late. Yet Plunkett and Wood particularly responded with a much improved performance here. It didn't contribute to a victory and it definitely wasn't perfect, but it was a timely reminder that in a game dominated by batsmen, England have some half decent bowlers in their squad already. Whether Jofra Archer joins them in time for the World Cup, however, remains to be seen. © Cricbuzz TAGS RELATED STORIES<doc-sep>Eoin Morgan did his best to avoid talking about his not-so-secret potential World Cup weapon but he knows there will as much attention on Jofra Archer throughout the one-day series against West Indies as the bowlers taking on Chris Gayle and company here. The stock of Archer, who qualifies for England next month, will rise or fall on the performances of the attack that has helped take Morgan’s side to the top of the rankings in this last five-match 50-over series before they must declare their World Cup hand. The Barbadian with an English father and British passport is very much on England’s radar for the World Cup and Ashes that follow and, Sportsmail understands, serious consideration was given to fast-tracking Archer into the Lions tour of India this winter and then this series. England's bowlers face a tough challenge in the one-day series against West Indies The pressure is very much on Liam Plunkett, Mark Wood (above), Tom Curran and David Willey Those plans were ultimately discarded but the pressure is very much on Liam Plunkett, Mark Wood, Tom Curran and David Willey to ensure they do not suffer at the hands of Gayle, the self-styled ‘Universe Boss’. ‘One of the best attributes I have is to compartmentalise things,’ said Morgan ahead of Wednesday’s first one-day international at the Kensington Oval. ‘Until Jofra qualifies he’s not really in our thoughts. Our focus is on this game and the series.’ England's bowling attack that has helped take Eoin Morgan’s side to the top of the rankings Engand's Jason Roy takes a catch during a net session at The Kensington Oval on Tuesday 1ST ODI LINE-UPS West Indies (probable): Gayle, Campbell, S Hope (wkt), Darren Bravo, Hetmyer, Holder (capt), Pooran, Allen, Cottrell, Nurse, Thomas. England (probable): Roy, Bairstow, Root, Morgan (capt), Buttler (wkt), Stokes, Moeen, Woakes, Rashid, Plunkett, Wood. TV & radio: Sky Sports Cricket and talkSPORT 2 (play starts 3pm). Advertisement While Morgan, who talked at length about Archer’s qualities in a Sportsmail interview on Monday, played a straight bat, Sir Alastair Cook, his predecessor as England one-day captain, was warning against the dangers of making late changes to World Cup plans. Cook said: ‘We’ve made massive mistakes leading up to World Cups, like changing the formula just before the last one, and in the last four tournaments we’ve made major changes in key positions. It won’t happen this time. Everyone is very clear on their roles and that’s exciting. England have got match-winners pretty much from one to 15.’ The big question remains, though, as to whether they include Archer in that 15 and one bowler under particular scrutiny here will be Plunkett, whose pace in the last year has been well below the 94mph he reached against Pakistan three years ago. Sir Alastair Cook has warned against the dangers of making late changes to World Cup plans Fast bowler Jofra Archer is very much on England’s radar for the World Cup and Ashes There is a worry that Plunkett, approaching his 34th birthday, may have just started his decline from the bowler who has been such a significant figure in England’s one-day bowling in the last four years. But Morgan insisted Surrey’s new signing still has his full support. ‘It’s not a concern,’ said Morgan about Plunkett’s apparent dip in pace. ‘It’s not easy facing him because of the trajectory and variations. That’s definitely the case in the Caribbean where a bit of extra height does count.’<doc-sep>
Archer was signed for £800,000 in the Indian Premier League auction in January 2018 England should pick Jofra Archer once he becomes qualified as they build up to hosting this summer's World Cup, says ex-England captain Nasser Hussain. Sussex all-rounder Archer was born in Barbados but has an English father and a British passport. He will be eligible to play for England in March thanks to new residency rules which came in on 1 January. "I don't like last-minute changes but there is a special cricketer out there in Jofra Archer," said Hussain. The updated England and Wales Cricket Board rules mean some cricketers currently classed as overseas players will be eligible to play for England once they have lived in the country for three years. The previous rules meant there was a seven-year residency period for players who arrived in England after their 18th birthday. The change means Archer, 23, could be picked in the England squad for the World Cup, which starts in May. "If you've got an opportunity to improve your squad before a World Cup you must take it," added Hussain, speaking to BBC Radio 5 live at an event marking 100 days until the tournament starts. "It just keeps one or two cricketers on their toes in these next three weeks in the Caribbean and the white ball cricket before they select their World Cup squad." England play five one-day internationals against the West Indies, which start on Wednesday, prior to a three-match Twenty20 series against the same side. Archer is not eligible but could be for six one-day internationals - one in Ireland and five against Pakistan - in May before the World Cup begins later that month. When is Archer eligible? Sussex said in November that Archer - who is contracted by the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League - is likely to qualify "at some point in March 2019". The county explained that the exact date of his qualification would depend on the time he spends out of the UK during the rest of 2018-19. Can England win the World Cup? England are top of the one-day international rankings and Hussain says they are favourites to win the World Cup, along with India. "When you travel around the world you hear from other nations how impressed they have been with the turnaround in the white ball form of England," he said. "Any one of six or seven sides can win the tournament but, for me, the two favourites - the two sides that are playing the best - are India and England. "It is a great opportunity for England captain Eoin Morgan and his team." Hussain also echoed Morgan external-link in praising the contribution of former England captain Andrew Strauss for the improvement in the country's one-day side. Strauss stepped down from his role as England's director of cricket in October prior to his wife, Ruth, dying of cancer in December. "I think Andrew Strauss never gets enough credit for what he's done for English cricket," Hussain said. "He's obviously had some very difficult, dark days of late and left his job because of his personal circumstances and not because of the job he was doing - he had a job for life the way he was doing it. Eoin is right to pay tribute to Andrew Strauss. "Our white ball cricket has been a shemozzle external-link [muddle] for a number of years. Eoin himself was given a bit of a hospital pass before that last World Cup where literally weeks before he was made captain. "They didn't have the right side and Strauss, Morgan and coach Trevor Bayliss said it was not good enough - it was almost like we were rewarding Test match players with a one-day spot. "It happened in my era and they decided that we are not going to go down that road anymore - that's why England are now ranked number one in the world." Former England captain Alastair Cook also believes the hosts can win the World Cup and build on their defeat by Pakistan in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy in 2017. "The challenge for England will be if they can deal with the expectation and home crowd," Cook said. "I think what happened in the Champions Trophy game against Pakistan where, in the semi-final, they didn't play very well - that learning experience from losing that will hold them in really good stead for this World Cup."