England T20 World Cup squad: Jofra Archer, Chris Jordan return; selected players to miss IPL playoffs

England has unveiled their 15-player squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, with Jofra Archer and Chris Jordan included while Chris Woakes misses out on selection. The defending champions, led by Jos Buttler, are gearing up for the global tournament with a mix of experienced internationals and promising talent.

Jofra Archer, who has been sidelined since May 2023 due to a right elbow injury, has been declared fit for competition, marking a significant boost for the team. His return adds considerable strength to England’s bowling lineup, reinforcing their pace attack.

In addition to Archer, England has called up Tom Hartley as their second frontline spinner. Hartley's recent performance was noteworthy; he claimed 22 wickets against India in his debut Test series. His selection comes ahead of Rehan Ahmed, signaling the selectors' preference for his style and recent form.

Chris Jordan's recall to the squad is another key move, replacing Jamie Overton who is currently injured. Jordan's versatility as a lower-order batsman and his fielding capabilities were likely decisive factors for his selection over Chris Woakes. Woakes, who is with the Punjab Kings for the Indian Premier League (IPL) season, has not yet played in any matches this season.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has also stipulated that all players selected for the World Cup must return from their IPL ommitments before the bilateral series against Pakistan, which begins on May 22. This directive means players like Jos Buttler and Phil Salt will be unavailable for the IPL playoffs, impacting their franchises during the critical final stages of the tournament.

The squad is scheduled to depart for the Caribbean on May 31, setting the stage for their first group match against Scotland at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 4.

England T20 World Cup squad: Jos Buttler (c/wk), Moeen Ali (vc), Phil Salt, Will Jacks, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Tom Hartley, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Reece Topley

SA T20 World Cup squad: Aiden Markram to lead, Anrich Nortje returns; Baartman, Rickelton called up