In a big blow for English cricket, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have just announced that Jofra Archer will miss the entire summer of cricket, including the marquee Ashes series. Archer, who established himself as a premier fast bowler in the run-up to the World Cup in 2019, had an injury-plagued IPL and had to return midway. He will continue with his rehab, and the ECB remain hopeful that he could play some part in England’s defence of the World Cup in India in October.
“It has been a frustrating and upsetting period for Jofra Archer,” said Rob Key, the managing director for England’s men’s cricket. “He was making good progress until a recurrence of the elbow injury, which kept him out for an extended period previously. We wish him the best of luck with his recovery. I’m sure we will see Jofra back to his best and winning games for England, whatever the format. Hopefully, sooner rather than later.”
Archer’s problems with the elbow started during England’s successful tour of South Africa in 2019-20. He missed out on playing the second and third Tests of that tour because of a right elbow injury. There was hope that Archer would play in the final Test at The Wanderers and the subsequent T20I series but it wasn’t to be.
Since then, his career has been marred by the persistent elbow problem. He has undergone as many as five elbow surgeries, which includes a small procedure done on his elbow by Roger van Riet in Belgium last month.
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For one of the world’s best bowlers, this is a cruel and telling blow. And yet again, it brings into focus the much-debated question – money over health? Did Archer rush his return to franchise cricket? Should he played the SA T20 and then the IPL? Is there pressure on these stars to fulfil obligations, or do they feel it is their duty to do so because they have been picked for whopping sums of money? Are these men mere gladiators in an age dominated by franchise cricket, or are they sportsmen and women who can still prioritise health and safety over money and other demands?
Archer is a very important case study. He was the most-feared bowler in the world for a brief period either side of the 2019 World Cup, where he bowled the Super Over in the final. Now, his very future as a cricketer is uncertain. Another such example is Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah too was rushed back prematurely, and as of now, there are no guarantees that he will be part of India’s World Cup squad.
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We have seen players get too far ahead of themselves too many times, only to end up in strife soon after. The demands of elite, high-performance sport are such that poor judgment calls, like over-bowling a cricketer in the quest for victory, can cost the team and the player months and years. Ian Bishop, the West Indies pace bowler whose own career was cut short by injury, is one who has already commented on the issue.
So what’s the way forward with players who are blessed with exceptional talent, but who practice a craft that often leaves them prone to breaking down? Is there a formula for captains to deal with them? How can cricket boards manage them better? These are all key questions that cricket will have to address.
For the moment, England will struggle to find a replacement. With Jimmy Anderson also struggling, Australia could well start the Ashes with their tails up.