England opted to pick Jofra Archer and Liam Plunkett for their Cricket World Cup opener against South Africa as the hosts left out Mark Wood and were made to bat first at The Oval.

Barbados-born Archer, who only became eligible to be selected for England in March, was expected to feature after impressing in the World Cup tune-ups this month, and Plunkett, rather than Wood, was included by the hosts too.

Wood had scans on an ankle injury sustained in a warm-up fixture against Australia last weekend and, though he was cleared to face the Proteas, he missed out, along with James Vince, Liam Dawson and Tom Curran.

Fast bowler Dale Steyn (shoulder) had already been ruled out for South Africa, whose captain Faf du Plessis won the toss and inserted England.