ICC World Cup 2019: Andrew Flintoff Urges England to Drop Anyone in Favour of Jofra Archer for the Marquee Event

The young fast bowling sensation Jofra Archer has impressed one and all on his England debut with his consistent pace and variations. Impressed by his antics, former English all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has urged the management to drop anyone in favour of Archer for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2019. Meanwhile, the selectors have not named the Barbados-born cricketer in the 15-member provisional squad for the showpiece event.

Jofra Archer took rapid strides playing various franchise-based cricket all over the globe. His ability to bowl 90mph yorkers, as well as deceptive slower balls has compelled England and Wales Cricket Board change their residency policy to make Archer available for selection. The upcoming five-match ODI series against Pakistan will be an audition for the 24-year-old fast bowler to impress the management and make a place for himself in the top 15.

Archer has to be in the World Cup squad

However, ahead of the ODI series, Andrew Flintoff has asked England to drop anyone in favour of Jofra Archer. Flintoff seemed mesmerised with Archer’s ability to bowl quick without much effort.

“I was watching him bowl the other day and I found it so frustrating that a bloke can bowl so fast with what looks like so little effort,” Flintoff said. “You ask who I would get rid of? Anyone,” he added.

Andrew Flintoff can do all but not stop praising the young Jofra Archer. Despite accepting the fact there is an issue about the qualification process, Flintoff said that England have done that over the years. And to not Archer be in the World Cup squad will be a foolish act.

“I think he’s brilliant. I know there’s a thing about him qualifying but we’ve done that for a number of years.  “But watching the lad bowl,” he said of Archer “For someone to bowl that quick so easily, with so much control, all the tricks — slower balls, bouncers, yorkers — he’s got to be in hasn’t he?” Flintoff concluded.

It is to be interesting to see what ECB and skipper Eoin Morgan finally decides to do. If Jofra Archer makes it into the World Cup squad it is likely that Mark Wood will be sitting out due to poor outing in the last one year.