Jofra Archer, the 29-year-old fast bowler, is making headlines once again as he prepares for a potential return to Test cricket this summer. Having last played a Test match in 2021, Archer has faced significant challenges due to recurring stress fractures in his elbow and back. Despite these setbacks, he made a comeback to international cricket in March 2023 during England's ODI series against Bangladesh. However, elbow discomfort during that time delayed his continuous participation until May 2024.
Archer's recent performances have been promising. He played in six of the eight games for the Rajasthan Royals in India, taking seven wickets. During the Champions Trophy, he showcased his skills by claiming six wickets in three matches for England. His next big challenge is a one-off Test game against Zimbabwe on May 22, marking another step in his journey back to Test cricket.
England's head coach, Brendon McCullum, has expressed optimism about Archer's future in Test cricket.
"I guess so, we'll find out. I'll sit down with some of the players after this [the Champions Trophy] and work out what their ambitions are," said McCullum.
Archer's journey has been marked by his efforts to regain his previous form and rhythm after being out of competitive cricket for several years. McCullum highlighted Archer's progress post-injury.
"Jofra's been out of competitive cricket for a couple of years, it's taken a little bit of time to get that rhythm of gameplay back but I think he's been really good," McCullum stated.
Archer has indeed shown resilience and determination in his comeback, bowling at high speeds and achieving substantial workloads throughout the Champions Trophy.
"He's bowled high pace, he's played a lot of cricket, he's been able to get a significant workload under his belt throughout this tournament [the Champions Trophy]," McCullum added.
McCullum further emphasized the importance of managing Archer's fitness while expressing confidence in Archer's eagerness to return to Test cricket.
"We've got to make sure we're always doing the right thing by Jof and understanding the risks involved but I'm pretty sure he's pretty keen to play Test cricket," said McCullum.
Adding Archer back into England's squad would be a significant boost according to McCullum.
"If you can add him to the battery of fast bowlers you're trying to build then it only strengthens the squad," he remarked.
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