England are set to welcome back their fast bowler for the 2025 County Championship, which begins on Sunday. Jofra Archer will make his much-anticipated return to red-ball cricket as part of Sussex’s squad to face Durham. It’s been four years since Archer last played a first-class match. His most recent red-ball game was in May 2021, when he turned out for Sussex against Kent in the County Championship.
Archer made his Test debut during the 2019 Ashes series, which unveiled a generational talent. He finished as the third-highest wicket-taker of the series, claiming 22 wickets at an average of 20.27 in just four Tests. He went on to play nine more Tests, adding another 20 wickets to his tally. His Test career currently stands at 42 wickets at an average of 31.04.
His last Test appearance came in England’s third match of the 2021 series in India. Since then, he has missed all of England’s Test fixtures due to injuries. During the tour, he sustained an injury to his right elbow, followed by stress fractures in the joint that required multiple surgeries. In 2022, he suffered a stress fracture in his back.
The pacer also missed the T20 and ODI series against the West Indies due to a minor thumb injury. However, he made his return during the 2024 T20 World Cup, followed by an appearance in the Champions Trophy earlier this year. A delay in the recovery from his broken thumb caused him to miss last month’s one-off Test against Zimbabwe.
“He’s been absolutely desperate to put the white shirt back on” – Stokes on Archer’s comeback
Archer has made his intentions clear about returning to the Test side. England Test captain Ben Stokes revealed the bowler’s eagerness during a recent interview at Headingley.
“He’s been absolutely desperate to put the white shirt back on. Randomly, a couple of times, he would just send me a text saying, ‘Zim?’ I was like, ‘Let’s just hold it there, all right. I know you’re in a good spot right now, but let’s not rush into it’,” said Stokes.
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