Archer back after bio-secure breach; quad issue means Stokes could play as specialist batsman; England name six frontline seamers in squad
Thursday 23 July 2020 22:26, UK
Jofra Archer, James Anderson and Mark Wood have returned to England's 14-man squad for the series-deciding third #raisethebat Test against West Indies, while Ben Stokes could play as a specialist batsman.
Archer, Anderson and Wood missed England's 113-run win in the second Test at Emirates Old Trafford, with Archer excluded after a breach of bio-secure protocol, for which he has been fined and received a written warning, and Anderson and Wood rested.
All-rounder Stokes - who was named player of the match in Manchester last week after scoring 176 and a quickfire unbeaten 78 - is still being troubled by a quad issue and may not be fit enough to bowl, with captain Joe Root saying: "He's definitely okay to play as a batsman - it's just how much of an impact he can have with the ball.
"If he's not fit to bowl that will change how we go with things slightly. Ben pretty much spent the whole time [in the second Test] out on the field, so it was a long old game for him, but it does take a lot to keep him down, and to take him out of the action. We'll see how he is in the morning.
"If you look at the squad of players we've got, we've got plenty of brilliant options to choose from. I feel like whatever combination we go with it is definitely capable of taking 20 wickets."
Stokes' niggle means England have included six frontline seamers in their squad, with Archer, Wood and Anderson joining Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Sam Curran, who formed the hosts' pace attack for the second Test.
The fast bowler was excluded from the second Test after an unauthorised trip to his home in Hove while driving between The Ageas Bowl in Southampton, the venue for the first Test, and Emirates Old Trafford.
Archer returned to group training on Tuesday after a five-day isolation period at the team hotel in Manchester.
Root said: "I think Jofra will be ready for it - he's had two very good days in training. He's got his smile back because he is back out there with ball in hand doing what he loves the most, which is playing cricket.
"He's bowled at the speed of light the last two days in some spicy nets, so it wasn't much fun for our batters.
"It was disgusting to see some of the stuff that he's had to put up with in the last week - it really is - and as a squad we've tried to get round him and make sure he knows that we're all there for him.
"No-one should have to deal with that, whether you're a professional sportsman, at school, a kid growing up or whatever line of work you're in. No-one should have to go through anything like that.
"I've had some good conversations with Jofra over the past few days. It is really important he's mentally in a good enough place to play the game.
"That will be factored into things as well. But we're all here to support him and get around him. He knows he's not going through this on his own and that is really important."
On the tough selection decisions with lots of seamers fighting for few spots, Root added: "It's part of the job, unfortunately. If [players] are annoyed with me for a few days I have to deal with that.
"English cricket is in a good place if there's extremely talented players sitting on the sidelines this week, which there definitely will be. It shouldn't come into it if they're your mate or not."
There are no changes to the England batting line-up or the wicketkeeping berth, with Jos Buttler keeping his spot behind the stumps, while Dom Bess retains his place as spinner ahead of Somerset team-mate Jack Leach.
Wisden Trophy holders West Indies only need a draw to keep the silverware but a win would secure their first Test series victory in England since 1988 when a team led by Sir Viv Richards triumphed 4-0.
West Indies won the Wisden Trophy by dint of a 2-1 series victory over England in the Caribbean in early 2019.
England squad for final Test: Joe Root (captain), James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Dominic Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Ollie Pope, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Watch the series-deciding third #raisethebat Test between England and West Indies live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10.30am on Friday.
