Jofra Archer: West Indies cricket chief vows to battle England for rising star

The chief of West Indies cricket has vowed to fight for Jofra Archer’s services as the battle hots-up for an all-rounder who’s turning heads across the globe. Born in Barbados but with an English father, Archer could qualify to play for England in the winter of 2022. Johnny Grave, the chief executive of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), is, though, clear that the best career path for Archer would be to represent the country of his birth – and believes that it could deal a hammer blow to the sport if he turns his back on the Caribbean. “He’s West Indian according to my definition but I guess English cricket has always had a slightly unique definition of Englishness,” he says.

“He could play for the West Indies tomorrow and my personal view is that from a career point of view, he would have a better career playing for the West Indies. “He’s obviously very grateful for what Sussex have done but maybe the next three months will make him reassess that.”

Still time to change his mind “In sporting terms, 2022 is a lifetime away and he knows that the only way he can play at the 2019 World Cup and the 2020 T20 World Cup is for the West Indies. “I don’t think this is an issue just for the West Indies, it’s an issue for South Africa as well. Kolpak has had a dramatic negative effect on their cricket. “You could argue it’s one thing Australia, India and England taking their lion’s share of the money but taking talent as well makes life very difficult. “We have had contact with him through various parties and his heart was very much set on playing for England. Whether that changes we’ll have to wait and see. “We’re not sat here praying for Jofra, because we’ve got some very capable all-rounders here. We’re not lacking talent but clearly if Jofra continues to progress the way he has done then any international side would want him in and around their team. “Personally, I think it would be best for him and best for West Indies cricket if he played here.” Archer’s performances in the Big Bash led to him being snapped up by the Rajasthan Royals in this weekend’s auction, immediately catapulting him into an exclusive bracket of cricketers who could now, potentially, earn far more playing T20 tournament cricket than they could playing for their country – regardless of whether he chooses England or the West Indies.

Read more at: inews.co.uk/sport/cricket/jofra-archer-w...untry-international/

With this kind of money why play,for cwi