England are considering fast-tracking Jofra Archer into their World Cup plans before he has even made an international appearance.

Sportsmail understands that Barbados-born Archer, who qualifies for England next month, is in line for a place in England’s World Cup squad and is also considered a legitimate option for the Ashes this summer. 

England captain Eoin Morgan says a final decision will be taken on Archer once his qualification is confirmed in late March and before the World Cup squad is named on April 23.

England are considering fast-tracking Jofra Archer into their World Cup plans

But it is understood senior figures in English cricket are very keen to use Archer, who bowls at 90mph-plus and is a big-hitting lower-middle order batsman, as soon as possible. 

If picked in the World Cup squad Archer would only have the one-off game against Ireland in Dublin on May 3 and the five-match series against Pakistan that follows to acclimatise to international cricket before England open the World Cup against South Africa at the Oval on May 30.

Morgan said: ‘Jofra comes with a big reputation. He’s an extremely talented young cricketer.’

Nottinghamshire bowler Harry Gurney returned an impressively economical 1-20 in his four overs as his Melbourne Renegades side claimed their first Big Bash League title. Melbourne Stars were set what looked an easy target of 146 to win but suffered a collapse to succumb to a 13-run defeat.

Sportsmail understands that Barbados-born Archer is a legitimate option for the Ashes

The best horse does not always win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. It can be the horse in the best physical condition on the day and the one which has had the best trouble-free preparation for the race.

As we stand four weeks from the feature race at the Festival, Clan Des Obeaux has presented a pretty strong case that he is the best staying chaser currently in training and it definitely looks like he will have had the best lead-up of the main contenders.

Ante-post favourite Presenting Percy was absent on Saturday and there now is a possibly that he will line up in the Gold Cup without racing over fences this season. Hardly ideal.

Clan Des Obeaux cemented his Cheltenham Gold Cup claims with Saturday’s victory

The enforced break caused by equine flu also means that last year’s Gold Cup winner, Colin Tizzard-trained Native River, will head back to Cheltenham without his intended prep-run.

Trainers have much better facilities these days and also utilise racecourse gallops to fine tune their horses but plans have had to be changed.

Not so with Clan Des Obeaux. Trainer Paul Nicholls had planned to run his King George VI Chase winner in the Denman Chase and, while that race was delayed a week and switched from Newbury to Ascot, he got his wish.

There can be further bumps in the road but I reckon currently he’ll be the happiest of trainers with Gold Cup hopes.

Clan Des Obeaux toyed with a decent rival in Terrefort on Saturday. He gave him 3lb and beat him 11 lengths. He’s a currently a 5-1 shot for the Gold Cup and I can see him being shorter come race-day.

Saturday was a fantastic day for Nicholls. His Grade One Ascot Chase winner Cyrname looked superb but, due the fact he is best racing on right-handed tracks, he hasn’t even got a Cheltenham entry. The Punchestown Gold Cup in May was mentioned as his big target.

I continue to be impressed by the tenacity of Nicholls’ Haydock winner Quel Destin, who should put up a good fight against a strong Irish challenge in the Triumph Hurdle.

It’s also hard to see Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Al Dancer not being in the shake-up for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle after his impressive three-and-three-quarter-length success in the Betfair Hurdle at Ascot.