While Nasser Hussain expresses his delight at witnessing Jofra Archer back in action, he remains cautious about risking the injury-prone fast bowler at the World Cup. Archer recently grappled with a lower back stress fracture in May and is anticipated to regain full fitness toward the latter stages of the tournament. However, his inclusion in the squad hinges on the unfortunate event of another bowler succumbing to an injury.

Hussain concurs with England’s decision to include Archer in their World Cup touring party but fervently hopes that the existing squad stays injury-free. The former captain said, “Jofra, from what I’ve heard, is bowling well and has found his rhythm.”

Archer, at the age of 28, will travel to India as a reserve player after narrowly missing out on selection for Jos Buttler’s 15-man squad. Despite playing a pivotal role in England’s World Cup victory on home soil four years ago, including delivering the crucial super over during their final win against New Zealand, Archer’s career has been hampered by persistent injuries.

Hussain acknowledges the lack of recent match experience for Archer, a potential concern, especially in a World Cup setting. He comments, “He hasn’t seen much match action, and the World Cup doesn’t provide many opportunities for that. He might have to rely on net sessions. Nonetheless, having him as a reserve is a valuable asset. With his familiarity with India, acquired through his participation in the Indian Premier League, and his knowledge of the venues, his inclusion is the right decision, considering what he has been through.”

In addition to concerns about Archer, England supporters have also been worried about Ben Stokes’ fitness. Stokes grappled with a knee injury during the Ashes series but was persuaded to come out of one-day international (ODI) retirement for the World Cup. Notably, he recently notched a remarkable 182 against New Zealand, setting a new record for England’s highest individual score in ODI cricket.

Hussain points out that Ben Stokes, who will be 36 when the next ODI World Cup is held in 2027, is likely to retire from the format after this year’s tournament. However, the timing of his retirement remains a matter known solely to Ben himself.