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England’s main decisions have come in the pace-bowling department, most notably putting faith in the immensely talented Archer, who has been plagued by right elbow and back injuries in recent years.
He missed all of last summer after a recurrence of the stress fracture in his elbow and England have been cautious will his rehab. Archer will look to prove his fitness against Pakistan and then would be in line to play for England in Barbados, the country of his birth.
Key told BBC Sport: “When you look at the attributes you want for a bowler in international cricket, Jofra has all of them. A lot of bowlers tick one or two of those, but Jofra has absolutely all of them.
“He can start, bowl in the middle and at the end, and he smack it as well. Fingers crossed we continue to go in the right direction with him.”
Like Archer, 35-year-old Jordan was also born in Barbados and gets the nod over Woakes despite being omitted from the England squad for the tour of West Indies in December.
Jordan has improved his late-order hitting, provides a death-bowling option England may otherwise have lacked and is arguably the best all-round fielder in the world.
“I don’t see Jordan and Woakes as like for like,” added Key. “Reece Topley has pipped Chris Woakes. Woakes is an excellent new bowler, but Topley with his left-arm angle and what he has been doing in the past year has cemented his place with the new ball.
“Chris Jordan is in there for his batting as well as his bowling. Not only is he an excellent death bowler and bowled all the tough overs in T20 cricket, but his batting has kicked on as well.”
Left-arm spinner Hartley, 24, has not played a T20 international, but impressed on the Test tour of India and gets in ahead of leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed.
It is with the bat where England look strongest. Buttler, Will Jacks and Jonny Bairstow have all made centuries in this year’s IPL, where Phil Salt has also been in good form. Ben Duckett and Brook both made hundreds in the latest round of County Championship matches.
As expected, Dawid Malan is not included. The Yorkshire left-hander has not played for England since the 50-over World Cup and his international career looks to be over even though he was awarded a central contract in October.
As well as Scotland, England are in a first-round group alongside Australia, Namibia and Oman.
For the first time, the men’s T20 World Cup has been expended to 20 teams. Hosts United States begin the tournament on 1 June (0130 BST 2 June) against Canada in Texas in a repeat of the first-ever international game of cricket. The final is on 29 June in Barbados.
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