Archer named in England’s provisional list for T20 WC, Jamie Smith fails to make the grade

Pacer Jofra Archer, despite nursing a side strain, has been named in England’s provisional squad for the ICC T20 World Cup to be held in India and Sri Lanka in February-March 2026. Batter Jamie Smith was not lucky to make the grade.

Smith, who has not been among the runs in the ongoing Ashes Series against Australia, has been left out. England are presently trailing 1-3 in the five-match series with the last game to be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The big-hitting wicketkeeper-batter entered the series with a strong reputation, but so far has a best of 60 from the bat with only one other score over 30 in eight innings.

Archer had missed out the fourth Test which England won in Melbourne. He will not be seen in action in Sydney too. Archer sustained the injury after taking six wickets in the third Test in Adeliade, a loss which condemned England to a 3-0 deficit and saw Australia retain the Ashes.

The pacer had nine wickets overall in the Ashes and scored 51 in Adelaide for his first Test 50, suggesting he could be a valuable pinch-hitter lower down the order at the T20 World Cup.

Archer was not included in the T20 or One Day International squads for matches against Sri Lanka leading up to the T20 World Cup. Smith was also left out of those, despite having opened the batting for England in recent ODIs.

Joe Root was included in the ODI squad for the three games against Sri Lanka, but as expected, not for the T20 internationals or the World Cup. England open their series against Sri Lanka on January 22, with all three games in Colombo. They then play the first of three T20s against Sri Lanka in Kandy on January 30.

England begin their World Cup campaign in Group C against Nepal on February 8 in Mumbai.