David Willey will bounce back and return a better cricketer after his exclusion from England’s World Cup squad, according to Graeme Swann.

The Yorkshire all-rounder was one of the casualties when England named their final squad for the home tournament earlier this week, with Sussex’s Jofra Archer the beneficiary.

But Swann thinks the heartbreak of missing out will only push the 29-year-old left-arm seamer to new heights.

“From a human point of view, it’s a shame for David Willey because he has played some good cricket building up to the tournament,” said Swann, speaking at the unveiling of ‘A Giant Catch’, a six-metre high art installation in Nottingham to mark the city’s fan zone and it is hosting five matches during the 2019 Cricket World Cup.

“For him it could be an amazing thing. If he says to himself ‘right I’m going to go away and turn myself into a cricketer who puts himself in Jofra Archer’s position where every team in the world would want me’, then that’s a brilliant thing for David Willey.

“I think he’s the sort of character who will do that. He can do that because he has got a brilliant attitude and is a strong character.

“He may never bowl at 95mph bruise that’s based on natural gifts, but he can turn himself into a world-class cricketer.”

Swann backed the selectors decision to bring in 24-year-old Archer, which he saw as hard-nosed but correct as the Barbadian-born paceman could be the difference maker for Eoin Morgan’s men.

He believes the tournament hosts are now in their best position to be the team lifting the trophy at Lord’s when the tournament reaches its climax on July 14.

And Swann is of the view that Willey knew the decisions was coming when you compare what the two players.

“If anyone within the set up thinks sentimentality is a good reason to pick someone then you’re never going to win the World Cup,” Swann said.

“Jofra Archer is an absolute no brainer, if any team in the world has a chance to pick him they are putting him down on the team sheet first.

“Had it gone the other way with Archer left out and Willey remaining in the team, I would say England would have no chance because it would show they are soft.

“But they have made some hard-nosed decisions and I think that’s the right one.

“David Willey will know if you put the two men on a piece of paper he is not going to get picked - 100 times out of 100.”

ICC Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour, driven by Nissan, was on a 100-day tour of England and Wales at over 100 locations and events before arriving back in London ready for the opening match.