This Is Why Jofra Archer Left Barbados And West Indies For England

It would not be very wrong to say that Jofra Archer is the most popular cricketer in England right now. The fast-bowler has been nothing less than a revelation for England after making his debut in May this year, just days ahead of the World Cup. Archer’s selection in the World Cup in place of David Willey did raise some eyebrows but he went on to justify the selection.

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Archer finished the World Cup as England’s highest wicket-taker as the hosts won their first-ever World Cup title. Just days after his heroics in the World Cup, Archer made his Test debut in the ongoing Ashes and has already started turning heads. In his maiden appearance, he troubled Steve Smith with his pace and bounce that eventually saw the latter getting a blow on his neck and being concussed off.

After picking up five wickets on his debut, he picked up a six-wicket haul in his second appearance. Archer is looking destined for greater things in the future and England are only going to be benefited by it. But things could have been very different. Archer, in fact, could have ended up playing for his native West Indies had things not changed drastically when he was struggling to make it big.

Reason  behind leaving West Indies:

Jofra Archer grew up in Barbados, learning cricket on a pitch alongside a graveyard. He attended Christchurch Foundation School and wanted to be a wicketkeeper, but his talent for bowling fast soon emerged. But things soon started falling apart which forced him to take the road less travelled.

The Barbados cricket Association and the West Indies Cricket Board has to put things in place rapidly so we don’t loose players like Archer etc in the future, as a lover of West Indies cricket this is heartbreaking he isn’t wearing Maroon.

— Tino95 (@tinobest) August 18, 2019

A selection snub began to push Archer England’s way. While he was fast-tracked into the West Indies under-19s side, he was dropped for the 2014 World Cup and reportedly did not take it well. The lack of opportunities in Barbados also compelled Archer to think of taking a different route.

“It’s really hard to get a chance in Barbados,” he told Wisden in March.

“It’s either the first team or no team. There’s no second XI, there’s no academy really. From under 19 you’ve just got to try and break into the senior team. It’s just a long list.

“I was injured at the time, so I put myself pretty much to the bottom of that list. No one showed much interest so I just thought I’d try and come to England and give it a couple of years. If it didn’t happen I could always go back and try again,” he added.

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Archer’s father is English and the cricketer has a British passport. Thus in 2015, he moved to England to realise his dream.  Under England’s old eligibility rules, he would not have been eligible to play international cricket for his new home country for seven years of residency. However, the ECB changed the requirement to just three years and Archer was able to make his debut earlier this year.