Flintoff tells England to drop \'anyone\' to get Archer into World Cup squad

Flintoff tells England to drop 'anyone' to get Archer into World Cup squad

AFP  |  London 

has urged England to drop "anyone" in order to make sure has a place in their squad.

The past week has seen Barbados-born paceman show glimpses of his talent while making one-day international and Twenty20 debuts for England after completing a three-year residency period.

His ability to bowl 90-mile-per-hour (145 kmh) yorkers, as well as deceptive slower balls, has caught the eye. is set to have further chances to make a case for a spot during England's upcoming one-day international series against starting at the Oval on Wednesday.

Former England fast all-rounder is a fan of the "unbelievable" Archer.

"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," told reporters in on Tuesday.

Following a miserable first-round exit at the 2015 edition in and New Zealand, hosts England have risen to number one in the ODI rankings, without Archer.

But Flintoff said loyalty to existing players was no reason to ignore the 24-year-old's claims for a place in England's final 15 for

"You ask who I would get rid of? Anyone," he added at an event to publicise the official World Cup song, 'Stand By' by Loryn and Rudimental.

- Got to be in -

================

"I think he's brilliant. I know there's a thing about him qualifying but we've done that for a number of years.

"When I was a kid we were watching (born in South Africa) and were waiting on Graeme Hick (born in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe) to play (for England).

"We've had KP (Kevin Pietersen, born in South Africa) so it's not a new thing," said the 41-year-old Flintoff.

"But watching the lad bowl," he said of Archer "For someone to bowl that quick so easily, with so much control, all the tricks -- slower balls, bouncers, yorkers -- he's got to be in hasn't he?"

Flintoff had little sympathy for those members of England's current pace attack who had expressed concerns about possible damage to team morale were Archer to play at

"I would make sure I would raise my game," Flintoff said. "It's international sport, competitive and it's a good position for England to be in that you can drop or leave out someone (else) so good."

England have never won the men's World Cup, Making the last of their three losing appearances in the final back in 1992.

All three of Flintoff's World Cup campaigns saw England make early exits.

"I played in three World Cups and didn't get through the group stages, even though they didn't pass without incident!" joked Flintoff, who at in the commandeered a pedalo in St Lucia.

"It would be nice to see an England side do something now. Going into it you look at the sides and we're up there with the favourites aren't we?"

Asked what had changed in England's approach to ODI since he retired in 2009, Flintoff cited the Eoin Morgan's "impressive" influence, before adding: "I think they've found their identity.

"For years when I played it was 'have won with a pinch hitter let's get a (Sanath) Jayasuriya at the top of the order.'

were doing well with Adam Gilchrist, 'let's try and do what they do'. We were always chasing the game.

"I think now we've found the best England one-day team we've seen.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Tue, May 07 2019. 22:25 IST