Jofra Archer is set to return to Test cricket for the first time since 2021. Since then, he’s been on the shelf for more than four years after a freak string of maladies. The 28-year-old fast bowler has focused on white-ball formats during his injury lay-off, returning to full fitness. His encouraging early appearances are raising spirits not just with the fans, but within the locker room.
Archer’s path return to the pitch has been a slow one. He has appeared in just a single first-class game for Sussex this season. In practice sessions at Edgbaston he complimented the England bowlers and was able to bowl accurately. England’s coaching staff feel Archer has done enough of the workload down on the south coast to earn a passing grade in terms of selection.
England head coach Brendon McCullum confirmed, “Jofra Archer will come into calculations.” He bravely promised that Archer was indeed “ready to go.” This is a clear indication that the selectors are very much looking at him for selection for the third Test against India.
The previous time Archer slipped into the England whites was in a Test against India in Ahmedabad in 2021. Since then he has been a man largely ravaged by injuries who has not played much cricket, especially the longest version. James Anderson, the veteran bowler who was on the team when Archer last played a Test match, understands how important it will be to reintegrate Archer. He highlighted the need to get Archer reintegrated with teammates.
“You could keep trying to build his overs up and play him later in the series, but it could be too late by then,” Anderson stated. His remarks reveal a growing mood for rejuvenating England’s bowling order. This demand for transformation follows their highly disappointing showing at home where they suffered an embarrassing 336-run defeat to India in the second Test at Edgbaston.
The third Test starting on Thursday is a chance for England to reset their approach. With Archer’s return, they’ll add even better energy — individual and collective — into the squad. It would mean one of Gus Atkinson or Jamie Overton would be dropped from the current side.
As Michael Vaughan pointed out, any decision on including Archer has an element of risk. “Whatever England go with, it’s a huge risk,” he remarked, highlighting the delicate balance between player fitness and team performance.
There’s plenty of chatter going into this pivotal Test match. Yet all eyes will be on Jofra Archer as he seeks to toast the completion of his longed-for return with a performance worthy of the hype.
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