It would “not be fair morally” for England to pick the uncapped Jofra Archer in their World Cup squad, says fellow all-rounder Chris Woakes.
Sussex’s Archer, 24, has played only 14 one-day matches in his career but has impressed in Twenty20 cricket.
England, the world’s number one side, name their provisional 15-man squad on Wednesday.
“If he was to come in and someone was to miss out, it would be extremely unfortunate,” Woakes told BBC Sport.
Asked if it was fair that Archer could replace someone who has been part of the squad for three years, Woakes said: “Fair probably is not the right word.
“It probably wouldn’t be fair, morally, but at the same time it’s the nature of international sport.”
Barbados-born fast bowler Archer, whose father is English, has a UK passport. He qualified earlier this year after the England and Wales Cricket Board changed its residency rules.
Rated one of the most valuable limited-overs players in the world because of his 90mph bowling, athletic fielding and aggressive batting, he is currently playing for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
England coach Trevor Bayliss said Archer will feature in the one-day internationals against Ireland and Pakistan in May, with England also naming a 17-man squad for those matches on Wednesday.
Woakes said: “We’ve been a tight-knit group for the last two to three years, played some really strong cricket, won a lot of series
“Apart from a personal level, I wouldn’t want to see any of my mates and team-mates miss out.
“But it’s the nature of international cricket that there is always someone knocking on the door.
“I don’t think it would disrupt the team because everyone would find a way to move on and we’re trying to win a World Cup for England – that’s the bigger picture.”
