WC: England better with Archer in squad, says Plunkett

Terming Jofra Archer as a "class act", England pacer Liam Plunkett believes that the 24-year-old should be included in the squad for the upcoming World Cup beginning at the end of this month.

Archer was not included in the preliminary 15-member England squad for the showpiece event. However, he is making a late bid to make it during the ongoing five-match ODI series against Pakistan.

In his T20I debut against Pakistan on Sunday, Archer returned with the figures of 2-29 and pulled off a run-out as England won the match by seven wickets. And he continued with his fine display of fast bowling in the first ODI which ended in no-result due to rain on Wednesday. In the four overs which he bowled, Archer picked up a wicket giving away just six runs.

"With him in your squad, you're going to be a better team," ESPNcricinfo quoted Plunkett as saying after the match. "He's obviously a class act. He showed that today. He's bowled really nicely with pace and smashed good areas. It looks easy for him. He ambles in, bowls 93 mph and makes it look effortless. It's something you don't see day in, day out," he added.

Pakistan and England will now lock horns with each other in the second ODI to be played on Saturday.

Former captain Andrew Flintoff has already said that England should include the Barbados-born cricketer at all cost.

"He's got to be in," Flintoff was quoted as saying by the BBC. "Who I would get rid of? Anyone. He's brilliant."

"He is unbelievable -- I was watching him bowl the other day and I found it so frustrating that a bloke can bowl so fast with what looks like so little effort," Flintoff said heaping praise on the bowler.

England will start their World Cup campaign against South Africa on May 30 at The Oval. Before that, they will also play two warm-up matches against Australia and Afghanistan.

--IANS

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