Jofra Archer to be given extended rest ahead of packed 2021 schedule
Jofra Archer will play his final England game of the year on Tuesday and could see his rest period extended until the India tour in February.
Archer is likely to be rested for the Sri Lanka Test series in January as England manage his workload across a packed 2021 schedule that culminates in the Ashes and could include a possible 18 Test matches.
He flies home after the final Twenty20 against South Africa, along with Ben Stokes and Sam Curran. All three were rested from the ODI series against South Africa that starts on Friday as England attempt to steal breaks for their all-format players.
Archer has already said, “I’m not sure how many bio-bubbles I have in me”, and the pitches in Sri Lanka will be heavily tilted in the favour of spin. Pace, though, could still be a key weapon, with short, sharp spells used as a shock tactic against Sri Lanka players who are weaker against quicker bowling.
But generating heat on flat, slow Sri Lankan surfaces looks set to fall on the shoulders of Mark Wood, and possibly Olly Stone, both of whom need to play as much Test cricket as possible to be ready for the Ashes series in Australia. Wood’s reverse swing could be very useful in Sri Lanka for Joe Root, who will also have James Anderson and Stuart Broad so will not be short of seam bowling options. Jonny Bairstow will be recalled as well with England worried about the fitness of Ollie Pope, who had a second shoulder operation in September.
Archer will be selected for the tour to India in February where England will play a minimum of three Tests and series in 50 over and Twenty20 cricket.
Eoin Morgan has indicated that India Twenty20 series will probably be the last time they pick their full-strength team before selecting the squad for the Twenty20 World Cup. England will use white-ball series next summer to rest players who might be involved in the Ashes.
Archer, Curran and Stokes all played in the IPL and resting them for the ODI series against South Africa is a reminder of modern-day priorities. Giving Curran a break shows how he has elevated himself into the ranks of England’s most valued players.
England encouraged players to appear in the IPL in the lead up to the 2019 World Cup and once that decision has been made, there is no going back given the sums of money on offer. News that the IPL is likely to expand to 10 teams next year, as revealed by Telegraph Sport, will only increase the pull on England players’ time.
Morgan is close to finalising his best XI and sees most series next year as an opportunity to add strength in depth to his World Cup squad.
His team could easily be 2-0 down against South Africa, rather than 2-0 up and eying a whitewash at Newlands on Tuesday. They are much the stronger side, but both games have been tight, England winning them with four balls and one ball to spare respectively.
South Africa are a side that is reminiscent of England teams of the past with their inability to finish off opponents but Anrich Nortje’s spell of blistering pace on a dead Paarl pitch was ominous.
With so few opportunities to play his full-strength team before the next World Cup, Morgan is likely to pick an unchanged side for the third game in a row, although the match will be on a used pitch and conditions may force a rethink. Stokes bowled two overs in Paarl on Sunday and England have looked a spinner light in both matches so Moeen Ali could come into contention.
England have never whitewashed South Africa in a white-ball series and Morgan wants his players to build on the first two games. “This series and the next in India are the two where we might have a full strength squad,” he said. “We need to iron out everyone's role in the team and get everyone comfortable with the roles they're playing.”