Jofra Archer claimed his expected position in England's final World Cup squad, alongside the surprise inclusion of Liam Dawson
Archer leaves Willey in the cold for Cup
The rapid international rise of Jofra Archer has hit a new peak with the bowler's inclusion in England's final World Cup squad of 15, at the expense of David Willey.
But while Archer's inclusion was largely expected, England still sprung a surprise by plumping for the spin of Liam Dawson over Joe Denly in the allrounder role.
Dawson has not played for England since an ODI against Sri Lanka in Dambulla last October, where he pulled a muscle in his side and left early after one appearance in the five-match series.
A bit of cheeky banter from the great @gilly381 after giving his #CWC19 prediction! pic.twitter.com/2fUfNHoROZ%E2%80%94 cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) May 21, 2019
Dawson took 18 wickets at 20.33 and has averaged 45 with the bat in nine games of England's domestic one-day competition, helping Hampshire into the final, and coach Trevor Bayliss said he has long been on the radar of the team.
"Dawson has been in conversations for the last six months or more," Bayliss said earlier this week, before the squad was named. "He was in Sri Lanka with us and if it wasn't for an injury he'd have probably finished that series and possibly gone to the West Indies as well.
"Unfortunately one or two guys have to miss out. That's just the way it is in professional sport. It's going to be a difficult position and everyone will feel for whoever misses out."
Dawson had been involved in Hampshire's first-class County Championship match against Nottinghamshire on the Isle of Wight when the World Cup squad was named, and was immediately withdrawn from that game, replaced by leg-spinner Mason Crane.
Denly exits after he saw little action in England's one-day series against Pakistan while batting at No.7 and being the third choice spinner behind Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid.
Captain Eoin Morgan bowled him only one over in the ODI where he stood in for Rashid against Pakistan. He was an ill fit in the spin bowling allrounder role and could not unseat James Vince as the spare batsman in the England squad.
What can I say, I’m absolutely gutted. Still 100% behind the lads. On a positive.....still winning at life!! pic.twitter.com/h8AAoregxV%E2%80%94 David Willey (@david_willey) May 21, 2019
England changed the eligibility criteria last November to fast-track Archer to international cricket after his stunning form in domestic T20 leagues around the world, including with the Hobart Hurricanes in the KFC BBL.
Willey had played 46 ODIs for England since their ignominious exit from the 2015 World Cup in the group stage at the hands of Bangladesh. He has fallen down the pecking order with Archer and Wood, who can both bowl around the 145kph mark, preferred with the new ball.
He took to Twitter to write: "What can I say, I’m absolutely gutted. Still 100% behind the lads. On a positive.....still winning at life!!" alongside a video of a child happily dancing away to a pop song.
England batsman Alex Hales had been named in the preliminary squad, but he was withdrawn just a week later and removed from all international squads for the season after it was revealed he had failed a recreational drug test and was serving a 21-day ban from cricket. Hampshire batsman James Vince took his place in the side.
England's first official fixture in their World Cup campaign will be Saturday's warm-up match against Australia at Southampton's Rose Bowl.
England World Cup squad: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Liam Plunkett, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, James Vince..
2019 World Cup
Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa
May 22: (warm-up) Australia v West Indies, Southampton
May 25: (warm-up) England v Australia, Southampton
May 27: (warm-up) Australia v Sri Lanka, Southampton
June 1: Afghanistan v Australia, Bristol (D/N)
June 6: Australia v West Indies, Trent Bridge
June 9: India v Australia, The Oval
June 12: Australia v Pakistan, Taunton
June 15: Sri Lanka v Australia, The Oval
June 20: Australia v Bangladesh, Trent Bridge
June 25: England v Australia, Lord's
June 29: New Zealand v Australia, Lord's (D/N)
July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)
July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford
July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston
July 14: Final, Lord's
For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE