Chris Jordan has been recalled to the English national white-ball cricket team's provisional T20 World Cup squad, at the expense of Chris Woakes. Jofra Archer has also been included, as he prepares to return to competitive cricket after almost a year's absence.
Jordan, whose last international appearance was in September 2023 against New Zealand, is one of 15 players selected for the upcoming tournament. The squad also includes Archer and uncapped left-arm spinner Tom Hartley. Archer has been passed fit after recovering from a right elbow injury that has kept him out of competitive action since May 2023. Hartley, who achieved prominence earlier this year with 22 wickets against India in his maiden Test series, has been appointed as the second frontline spinner ahead of Rehan Ahmed.
The inclusion of Jordan and subsequent omission of Woakes represent the only surprises in Jos Buttler's squad, which has been charged with defending England's 2022 title. Due to Jamie Overton being ruled out through a back injury, Jordan has been identified as a potential alternative to the main batting lineup, despite missing the T20I series against West Indies in December, which England lost 3-2. Jordan has demonstrated his ability to score lower down the order, with an average of 30.05 and a strike rate of 160.53 in all T20 cricket since the start of the 2023 Vitality Blast. He remains an exceptional fielder and a viable option as a death bowler.
Rob Key, England's director of cricket, said of Jordan's recall:
"We've watched CJ for a while now and his bowling has always been a serious factor for us. The fact that he can bowl at the death has always been something we look for, but his batting seems to have kicked on a bit this time. Having power is a big thing out in the Caribbean, so that's why CJ has comfortably got in there."
In a recent interview, Archer acknowledged that England were still keeping their "fingers crossed" given the extent of his injury setbacks in recent years. These included a stress fracture of the back and long-standing elbow problems. However, given the prospect of him playing in front of his friends and family in Barbados, Archer was optimistic that the four-match T20I series against Pakistan in May would enable him to hit the ground running.
Woakes has been a regular member of the England limited-overs squad, particularly with the new ball in both their 2019 ODI and 2022 T20I World Cup successes. His omission, along with Ben Stokes' decision to make himself unavailable for selection, marks the end of an era. Woakes has not yet featured for the Punjab Kings at the IPL this season.
Key stated that the door was not closed on Woakes' participation in the white-ball format, but he made it clear that following his medal-winning performances in the Ashes last summer, this year's Test series against West Indies and Sri Lanka would be his primary focus.
England's batting line-up is largely self-selecting in Stokes' absence, with the in-form trio of Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, and Will Jacks set to fill the top three berths. Jonny Bairstow has been confirmed by Key at No. 4 in the wake of his remarkable 41-ball century for Punjab Kings in their record 262-run chase against Kolkata Knight Riders last week.
All four players, plus Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, and Reece Topley, will be unavailable for the remainder of the IPL. The selectors have advised that the players must fly home on May 18-19, ahead of the play-offs, and report for England duty in time for the first T20I against Pakistan at Headingley on May 22. The group will then fly to the Caribbean on May 31, ahead of their opening group match against Scotland in Barbados on June 4.
Key confirmed that the players had been aware for some time that this was a likely outcome. However, Buttler, who was already scheduled to be absent from the Rajasthan Royals' anticipated playoff campaign due to paternity leave, had been particularly eager to convene the squad at the earliest opportunity.
England T20 World Cup squad:
Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, Will Jacks, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Tom Hartley, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Reece Topley