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Jofra Archer may be England\u2019s only travelling reserve to India for the World Cup but Matthew Mott is aware another misstep with the fast bowler\u2019s fitness could have \u201cserious ramifications\u201d.<\/p>\n
The recurrence of a stress fracture in Archer\u2019s right elbow sidelined him for the summer and ultimately kept him out of England\u2019s 15-man squad for the defence of their title, which gets under way next week.<\/p>\n
Archer is part of the touring party as cover and a tantalising option if injury strikes, even if it is anticipated he will not be ready to make his return until the tournament is close to a conclusion.<\/p>\n
Given the repeated setbacks he has had since a breakout 2019, when he was entrusted with bowling the super over that led to England being crowned world champions, Mott will not take any risks with the 28-year-old.<\/p>\n
\u201cJofra is not fit to play until the latter stages of the tournament,\u201d England\u2019s white-ball head coach said. \u201cA lot of where he\u2019s coming from is to get some intensive work with our medical staff.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe have been very big on not rushing him back and that message has been clear to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe understands \u2013 he\u2019s desperate to play but he\u2019s also realistic that if this thing happens again it could have serious ramifications.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll take him over there, work with him and if something happens at the back end, he\u2019s someone who could come in.\u201d<\/p>\n
England, who head to India on Wednesday night, are not flying out any more supplementary options, with Mott set to act only if and when injury does occur and bring in a like-for-like alternative.<\/p>\n
Jason Roy, having been culled from the squad in favour of Harry Brook, has made himself available for reserve duty, while Mott has urged everyone who was part of the shadow England side that beat Ireland in a rain-affected ODI series \u2013 where Will Jacks and Ben Duckett impressed \u2013 to stay on their toes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t need to declare where that\u2019s at and we certainly don\u2019t really want to speculate on it,\u201d Mott said. \u201cEveryone in this group here, and everyone on the periphery, should be maintaining their fitness.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe flight to India is not that bad and the reality is (if) someone gets called up they are not going to get called straight into the XI. So they\u2019ll have time to adjust and that\u2019s where we arrived.<\/p>\n
\u201cPulling people around India for eight weeks is not going to get the best out of them. Every player should be ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mott revealed Adil Rashid and Mark Wood are both \u201cfine\u201d following niggles, adding he has a \u201crough idea\u201d of England\u2019s preferred XI ahead of the tournament opener against New Zealand in Ahmedabad on October 5.<\/p>\n
England selected 12 players during their 2019 triumph but Mott envisages making more use of his squad given the variety of Indian pitches and conditions, with the defending champions also facing an extensive travel schedule as their nine group-stage matches will be played in eight cities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t have any expectations,\u201d Mott said. \u201cA lot of teams are going to contest and expect to do well. We are one of them but I don\u2019t look at it as defending champions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe go in with the same points as everyone else. India will be favourites in the minds of many people because of home advantage, but they can go either way as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
England\u2019s summer programme finishing on Tuesday brings to an end former captain Andrew Flintoff\u2019s stint, having joined the backroom staff for their ODI series against New Zealand and Ireland.<\/p>\n
Flintoff returned to the public eye for the first time since a serious car accident while filming for Top Gear last December and Mott would welcome back the 45-year-old with open arms going forwards.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s definitely going to join us again in future, we\u2019ve loved having him around,\u201d Mott added.<\/p>\n
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\u201cHe\u2019s revered, he\u2019s got an aura about him, he\u2019s very special and what he\u2019s gone through recently, the humility he\u2019s displayed and the life experiences he can share have been immense.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven the seasoned Test veterans, they grew up idolising him and to see him in the flesh offering so much has been very special.\u201d<\/p>\n