Jofra Archer has been withdrawn from the first one-day international (ODI) against New Zealand on Sunday. The 30-year-old, who has been pivotal to the West Indies’ ODI team as of late, recently missed the three-match T20 series. Still, he will arrive with his teammates in New Zealand right before game time. As a result, he will not feature in the first ODI. As a tactical move, it sets him up well for the forthcoming Ashes series.
Archer’s departure for New Zealand is scheduled for Saturday, giving him very little time to adjust before the ODI. Although he did not play in the T20 series, he will be available to play the second ODI in Hamilton next week. Yet the decision to keep him behind has a deeper strategy. We want to make sure that he’s as battle-hardened and ready as he can be for the very challenging Ashes campaign just around the corner.
Archer isn’t the only one thinking this way in New Zealand. Fellow quicks Josh Tongue and Mark Wood have followed close behind as they ready themselves for the Ashes. Neither Tongue nor Wood finds his name in the white-ball squad for the ODIs. Their presence in New Zealand emphasizes the importance of preparation for the Ashes, which is a significant focus for the England cricket team.
Since returning to the national squad, Archer has quickly become a key player for the England cricket team. He’s especially great in crunch time. His omission from the first ODI underscores the team’s commitment to ensuring he is in peak condition for the Ashes series.
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