Jofra Archer is officially back in the England Test squad! Fans no doubt look forward to seeing him in all of the matches he plays in. Archer is yet to grace the field in a Test match again since 2021 due to a myriad of injuries. Even so, he is regarded as one of their most important weapons as far as the team’s woeful fast-bowling unit has been concerned in recent days. He certainly did that while with Sussex. Now, he’s looking to return to the peak of the sport.
The excitement surrounding Archer’s return is palpable. Even before he earned his England debut six years ago, he was already the heir to Eden Hazard’s throne as a generational talent. His match-winning performances in the 2019 World Cup final and 2019 Ashes series sealed his legacy. He snared 22 wickets in just four Tests against Australia, with a superb average of 20.27. Notably, Archer played a crucial role in England’s World Cup victory, bowling the decisive super over that clinched the title.
In recent weeks, Archer reappeared on the white-ball stage, though without the summer fixtures after the same elbow trouble returned to haunt him. He recently played his first red-ball match since May 2021 against Durham, where he bowled 18 overs and returned figures of 1-32. His performance proved that he’s returning to top form. He looks more than ready to add experience and class back to the England Test side!
Archer’s fellow fast bowler compatriots Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Sam Cook, and Jamie Overton feature in the squad. The signing of Archer certainly helps this unit, which has been hit hard by injuries in recent games. This unified action is a necessary ingredient as the squad gets ready to face a tough stretch of series coming up.
Paul Farbrace, a prominent figure in Archer’s cricketing journey, expressed optimism about the bowler’s condition.
“He bowled with good pace, good accuracy and his body’s in good shape which is fantastic.” – Paul Farbrace
Farbrace further stated that if Archer were to return, that would double the side’s chances in the series to come.
“We would all love to see Jofra playing for England because he makes England a much better team, and he would give them a much better chance of winning the big series.” – Paul Farbrace
Take all this with a grain of salt as there’s reason to be cautious about Archer’s return. Farbrace stressed the importance of being realistic in terms of managing the bowler’s workload.
“Let’s look after him, let’s be careful with him. All I will report back to them is that he bowled nicely, he looks like he’s in good rhythm, he’s bowled 18 overs and it’s up to them whether they pick him.” – Paul Farbrace
Archer has surely had the longest layoff from Test cricket. This absence is due to a repeating stress fracture in his throwing elbow, then the subsequent development of a stress fracture in his lower back. These injuries plagued his career following his remarkable debut at Lord’s in 2019, where he famously faced off against Australia’s Steve Smith. After an extensive spell on the sidelines with injury treatment and recovery, Archer is more than keen to play a pivotal part in the England setup again.
At the same time, the cricketing community is teeming with excitement and trepidation. No pressure then, all eyes will be on Archer as he prepares himself for a Test return. He seems to thrive under the pressure of the moment and often comes through when it matters most. Developing this skill will be vital for England if they are to better consolidate on their recent positive achievements.
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