WORCESTER'S Simon Archer added to his Commonwealth Games medal haul as England lost 3-1 to Malaysia in the team badminton final.

Archer did not figure in the Melbourne final but picked up a silver for being one of 10 squad members to play during the team competition.

The 32-year-old, who is expected to quit international badminton at the end of this season, has now won 10 Commonwealth Games medals, including four golds.

But number one pair Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms were the preferred mixed doubles combination in the latter stages of the team contest.

England beat India 3-2 in the semi-finals but Archer was involved in the quarter-final victory over Canada, losing 9-21, 6-21 in the men's singles after replacing the rested Aamir Ghaffar.

Silvers also went to Ghaffar, Robert Blair, Anthony Clark, Robertson, Emms, Donna Kellogg, Tracey Hallam, Ella Tripp and Joanne Nicholas.

Ian Wright, England's head badminton coach, said: "We gave it our best shot.

"It's certainly nothing to be ashamed of.

"Malaysia were the big favourites in the badminton world and we got really close to them.

"We couldn't have done a lot more. It was a strong performance and it bodes well for the individual events."

Archer and Tripp are unseeded for the mixed doubles competition which starts tomorrow.

The Worcester player has made the last three Commonwealth Games finals in the event, claiming golds in Kuala Lumpur 1998 and Manchester 2002 with Jo Goode who has since retired.