England limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan, who led the England team to win their maiden Cricket World Cup trophy in the 2019 edition, revealed why he sent the youngster and lesser expereinced Jofra Archer in the Super Over of the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
On 14th July 2019, England and New Zealand met in the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 at Lord’s (London). While New Zealand scored 241/8 (50 overs) in the first innings, England replied with 241 runs (50 overs). Due to the tied result, the match entered to the Super Over.
In the Super Over, after England scored 15/0, Jofra Archer came with the ball to defend it and New Zealand managed to score 15/1. Though the Super Over also had the tied result, England won that final on the boundary count back rule (26–17) and secured the trophy.
Jofra Archer is one of the best death bowlers in the world: Eoin Morgan
Talking about the reason of choosing the youngster Archer for the Super Over, Eoin Morgan claimed that he was one of the best death bowlers in the world and he already proved himself during the tough matches in the IPL, Big Bash Leagues.
Morgan told on ICC podcast titled ‘CWC Rewind’, “I think the obvious answer to choosing Jofra to bowl the super over is that he is one of the best death bowlers in the world. Guys are exposed to perform under high-pressure situations and Jofra has proved at the IPL, Big Bash that he can deliver under pressure. He had played only a dozen of ODI games at that stage, every challenge he had come under, he had thrived to perform in such situations.”
Jofra Archer made his international debut in the same month of the beginning of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 (May 2019). The right-arm fast bowler finished that tournament as England’s most wicket-taker and joint third most wicket-taker in overall (20 wickets).
The England captain also revealed why he decided to send Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes to bat in the Super Over. Earlier, both played the crucial roles in the second innings of the main game (Stokes 89 not out; Buttler 59) and the pitch wasn’t easy to play the big strokes.
Morgan said, “The last couple of balls in the 50-over action, me and Trevor had discussed as to what we will do if the match goes to super over. The wicket was so hard to middle the ball for the batsmen, so we thought Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes were the best batsmen to send to the middle.”
Stokes won the Player of the Match award in that final for his important contribution with the bat during the main game and Super Over.