England keep places open for Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer in T20 World Cup squad
- Published
Archer has struggled with a recurring elbow injury since 2020 and has also experienced back problems
Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer will have places kept open for them in the England team for the 2024 T20 World Cup, says coach Matthew Mott.
All-rounder Stokes is recovering from a knee operation and hopes to be fit to captain England in the Test series in India from January.
Fast bowler Archer has not featured for England since March because of an elbow injury.
Mott said Stokes was a "rare" talent and lauded Archer's "box-office pace".
"Every team in the world wants someone like that [Stokes] and they're rare," said Mott.
He pointed to Stokes' "incredible match-winning ability in every department" and said the "ability to have a seam bowler in that top six gives you so many options with your team balance".
Mott added: "A lot of the times you have to give up something. If you win, everyone says 'oh, they got it right'. If you lose, it's 'they were a bowler short or a spinner short'.
"When you've got a seam bowler in your top six, it makes selection a hell of a lot easier. So [choosing him at the T20 World Cup] is a given."
The 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and United States takes place in June.
Archer has been hampered by a series of injuries which have kept him out of Test cricket since 2021 and allowed him to play just seven white-ball games in 2023.
He has not been selected in the Test squad to tour India.
"In terms of Jofra, you've just got absolute box-office pace, change of pace, bowl any over in the innings. Him on the park is massive, everyone would agree with that," said Mott.