Reserve seamers Gus Atkinson and David Willey in line to face Afghanistan as England look to spread the load across the World Cup

• England fast bowler Gus Atkinson could replace Mark Wood against Afghanistan
• David Willey could also refresh the bowling ranks for Sunday’s World Cup clash
• England have beaten the Afghan side in all five of their white-ball meetings

England will consider refreshing their fast-bowling ranks for Sunday’s game against Afghanistan as they look to spread the load across this gruelling World Cup.

With the win over Bangladesh in Dharamshala giving Jos Buttler’s side breathing space after their opening-night hammering by New Zealand, they will have the chance to look at either Gus Atkinson or David Willey — and possibly both — against an Afghan side they have beaten in all five of their white-ball meetings.

The 15-man squad was chosen with this kind of game in mind, with as many as six seamers reflecting both England’s itinerary — they have to fly between venues after every game — and the injury-prone nature of Mark Wood and Reece Topley. If Atkinson or Willey don’t play against Afghanistan, thrashed by India here on Wednesday, it is fair to ask why they are here at all.

England’s fixture list gets tougher from next week, with South Africa in Mumbai followed by Sri Lanka, India and Australia, and ideally the reserve seamers get a game under their belt before the tournament’s business end.

Atkinson, the Surrey quick who shone on debut last month with four wickets in a T20 against New Zealand at Old Trafford, looked sharp in the nets in Dharamshala, and could replace Wood, who will need nursing through the next few weeks and bowled superbly against Bangladesh.

England fast bowler Gus Atkinson could replace Mark Wood against Afghanistan

David Willey could also refresh the England bowling ranks for Sunday’s World Cup encounter

Willey, who dug England out of a hole the last time these sides met in Delhi at the T20 World Cup in 2016, could be a straight swap for Sam Curran. Of the new-ball pairing, Topley made a case to be England’s attack leader during his opening burst in Dharamshala, and said he wants to play all seven remaining group games, insisting the World Cup schedule had nothing on the county cricket grind.

England may stick with the balance of four seamers and two spinners who dismissed the Bangladeshis for 227. During India’s win over the Afghans, seven of the eight wickets fell to the quicks. Their fastest, Jasprit Bumrah, picked up four.

The main concern right now is Chris Woakes, whose opening overs against New Zealand and Bangladesh cost a total of 22.

Without sensitive handling by Buttler in the second match, when Woakes stayed on after his first four overs leaked 34, then removed Mehidy Hasan Miraz in his fifth, he might still be wicketless in this World Cup.

‘I certainly feel I would’ve liked to have bowled a bit better,’ he said, after the squad traded the Himalayan air for the smog of India’s capital. ‘I probably haven’t executed as well as I can, but I picked up two really important wickets in the last game, which is good for confidence.’

Meanwhile, England will have a clearer idea after training on Friday whether Ben Stokes has recovered sufficiently from his hip injury to take on Afghanistan.

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