"If there are other players who become available and we think they're worthy of consideration then we'll consider them."
Tuesday 11 December 2018 06:36, UK
National selector Ed Smith has refused to rule out Jofra Archer being included in England's World Cup squad next summer.
Barbados-born seamer Archer will qualify in early 2019, most likely in late March, after the ECB changed its residency requirement for players arriving in the country after their 18th birthday from seven years to three.
England play no more cricket between their final T20I in the Windies on March 10 and when their provisional World Cup party is announced on April 23 - but Smith says that will not necessarily end Archer's chances.
"To be honest with you, I wouldn't rule anything out. I don't really believe in ruling things out," said Smith when asked about Sussex star Archer, who bowled the fastest ball in last term's IPL while playing for Rajasthan Royals.
"If there are other players who become available and we think they're worthy of consideration then we'll consider them. Try and get the decisions right one by one."
Smith says Archer's name did not crop up when he and his fellow selectors met to pick the 15-man ODI squad to face Windies in February.
"I've not spoken to Jofra. As it stands now, he was not available so we did not consider him for selection," said Smith.
"As a selector, you try and keep things as simple as you possibly can: who is available and of those available, what's the strongest possible squad?"
Kent's Joe Denly has retained his place in England's Test and ODI squads for the tour of the Caribbean.
The 32-year-old did not play an ODI or Test in Sri Lanka this autumn but picked up four wickets in a one-off T20I.
"Joe has played one game that registers on his historical record since his return to international cricket and in that one game he was man of the match," Smith added.
"He's probably doing all the right things. He has had an outstanding spell in his career and matured a little bit later than some cricketers.
"You'd have thought he was well placed to be part of that series of T20 games in the Caribbean."
Watch England's tour of the Caribbean live on Sky Sports this winter, starting with the first Test in Barbados from Wednesday, January 23.
