England fast bowler Jofra Archer is all set to make his return to red-ball cricket, with a potential spot in the squad for the second Test against India on the cards. Archer is set to feature for Sussex in their County Championship fixture against Durham, beginning on 22 June.
Sussex confirmed Archer’s inclusion in the squad after receiving clearance from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
“We’re pleased to confirm that Jofra Archer has been given the green light by the ECB to join the squad for our match against Durham,” read a statement from the club.
Archer returns to the red-ball arena after four years
This marks Archer’s first appearance in a red-ball match in nearly four years. He was not part of England’s squad for the opening Test of the five-match series against India, which starts on 20 June. The pacer had been in line to play in England’s ODI series against the West Indies, but a thumb injury sustained during the IPL ruled him out of that tour, as well as the England Lions fixtures against India A, which had been earmarked for his long-format return.
Since his last Test in February 2021, Archer has faced a string of injury setbacks — beginning with a persistent elbow issue that kept him out of action for the rest of that year and the 2021 and 2022 IPL seasons. A subsequent stress fracture in his lower back ruled him out of England’s 2022 domestic campaign and the T20 World Cup that followed. He returned to white-ball duties in early 2023 but suffered another setback during that year’s IPL, which sidelined him once again for the rest of the summer.
England’s pace resources have been stretched thin by injuries. Mark Wood remains in rehabilitation, Olly Stone has been ruled out for the summer, and Gus Atkinson missed the first Test due to a hamstring issue. With Atkinson unlikely to be available for the second Test either, England are short on experienced fast bowlers.
Should Archer come through the County match unscathed and prove his fitness, the Barbados-born could return to the England Test XI for the second Test at Edgbaston, beginning on 2 July.
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