Poles over pals as Archer sets sights on Aussies

England recruit Jofra Archer says friendships with Australian players, including his with Steve Smith, will go out the window the moment the first ball is bowled in their highly-anticipated World Cup encounter on Tuesday.

Archer and Smith joined forces at Indian Premier League outfit Rajasthan Royals earlier this year, with both players – each on the outer of international cricket for different reasons – using the tournament to show their wares ahead of the World Cup.

Asked if he'd consider Smith a friend after their season together, Archer said: "Yes. I’d like to consider he thinks of me the same way as well. He’s a really good guy.

"Cricket is cricket and I guess there's time to be friends after. But until the game is over, there will be nothing friendly about it."

England stars Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler also featured for the Royals.

Archer laughed that Smith largely dodged the likes of him and West Indies speedster Oshane Thomas at training sessions, instead preferring throw-downs.

But the 24-year-old believes he may have gleaned some technical insights into the idiosyncratic batting star that he and the other England bowlers can exploit.

"To be honest, I didn’t bowl at him much," Archer continued. "A lot of the guys probably don’t want to face me or Oshane in the nets. They like the side-arm (device coaches use for throw-downs).

"When you play with them you pick up on things you won’t normally notice when you're just playing against them.

"So hopefully me and Ben (Stokes) we can get together – I think we might bowl together at some point as well – so we probably know what to do when he’s in."

Smith and Archer's IPL bond is one of many that's been developed between Australian and England players in recent years.

Combative pair Jonny Bairstow and David Warner forged a fearsome opening partnership for Sunrisers Hyderabad and shared meals together despite previous testy moments on the field.

Tuesday's clash at Lord's will be the first of many between Australia and England during the northern summer; the two teams could face off again in a World Cup knockout game next month, while a five-Test Ashes series begins in August.

The Barbados-born Archer only qualified to play for England this year before making his international debut in the lead-in to the tournament and has been tipped a potential Test bowler.

While he's well aware matches between the Ashes rivals often hold an extra edge, he believes entering the contest without prior exposure could work in his favour.

"It is a pretty intense game between them and for me I'm not too sure if it will affect me coming in without having experienced it before," said Archer.

“It could be an advantage, me not being part of what happened before."

Australia will have their own inside knowledge on Archer, from not only Smith but also fast-bowling coach Adam Griffith who mentored the right-armer at KFC Big Bash club Hobart Hurricanes where he first truly caught the attention of the cricket world.

Griffith last summer insisted England "would be silly" not to pick Archer for the World Cup.

Head coach Justin Langer said it would be beneficial to have Griffith's knowledge on hand.

"He's a great athlete. We've seen him a lot in the Big Bash, Adam Griffith was his coach at the Hurricanes, so we know a fair bit about Jofra," said Langer.

"He bowls fast and moves well. We'll be on our toes for him as well.

"It's nice to know the opposition. It's good to know them and study them well and be really clear at the start of what we're trying to do.

"Then when it comes to the game it's the spirit and the combat of it all. That's what it's all about."

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

June 1: Australia beat Afghanistan by seven wickets

June 6: Australia beat West Indies by 15 runs

June 9: Australia lost to India by 36 runs

June 12: Australia beat Pakistan by 41 runs

June 15: Australia beat Sri Lanka by 87 runs

June 20: Australia beat Bangladesh by 48 runs

June 25: England v Australia, Lord's

June 29: New Zealand v Australia, Lord's (D/N)

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

Sync Australia's World Cup schedule to your calendar HERE

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE