England pacer Jofra Archer has announced his ambition to return to the Test arena for the next edition of the Ashes series. After battling numerous injury setbacks, Archer is determined to prove his critics wrong and is using the rest of 2024 to work towards his goal. Although he has recently returned to T20 cricket, Archer is yet to make a comeback in the longer formats of the game.

Archer’s determined comeback

In a recent interview with the BBC, Archer expressed his desire to utilize the remaining months of 2024 to ensure his selection for the Ashes remains a viable possibility. The fast bowler emphasized that he is motivated to silence the doubters who have mocked his fitness struggles on social media. Archer plans to manage his fitness diligently, aiming to reach peak condition by the start of the Championship next year, which he views as a crucial step toward his Test return.

“I am going to use the rest of this year to make sure that is at least a possibility. I’m tired of going on Instagram and seeing posts saying ‘he’s going to be on the physio’s bed in the next two weeks’ and stuff like that. I want to spend the rest of the year proving some people wrong and hopefully play in another Ashes,” said Archer.

“I will manage myself as best as possible and get myself [through] until at least maybe the start of the Championship next year. I’ll probably play a few of those [games] and keep building up and getting that workload ready for Test cricket,” he said in the same interview.

“I am feeling good and want to get some games in. I am going to enjoy this little phase of some white-ball cricket,” he added.

Focusing on fitness and future goals

Archer’s journey back to full fitness has been gradual, with Ben Stokes, England’s Test captain, stating that the pacer will not be rushed into the longest format of the game.

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Archer, who was part of the England squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 where they were defeated by India in the semi-finals, is eager to manage his workload effectively and build up his stamina and form through domestic matches. His focus remains on contributing to England’s Ashes campaign and reestablishing himself as a key figure in the Test squad.

In the lead-up to the upcoming T20 World Cup, England’s cricket fraternity is excited as pace sensation Jofra Archer inches closer to a remarkable comeback after a year-long battle with injuries. With Archer poised to return to competitive cricket, England’s prospects for defending their title receive a significant boost.

Jofra Archer’s Road to Recovery

The journey back to fitness has been challenging for Jofra Archer. Since his last competitive outing in May last year, Archer has been sidelined due to recurring issues with a stress fracture in his right elbow. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has exercised caution, opting to keep Archer out of the Test arena until 2025. However, with the T20 format offering a less demanding platform, hopes are high for Archer to regain his form and fitness.

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Expectations for the T20 World Cup

Archer’s inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad is significant for England’s bowling arsenal. With his ability to bowl at express pace and deliver pinpoint yorkers, Archer is poised to lead England’s attack in the tournament co-hosted by his native West Indies. His return injects a potent weapon into England’s bowling lineup and bolsters their chances of mounting a successful title defence.

Upcoming Squad Announcement

As England prepares to unveil its 15-strong squad for the T20 World Cup, the cricketing world awaits with bated breath. Alongside this announcement, England will also reveal the squad for the upcoming series against Pakistan. With memories of their lacklustre defence in the previous World Cup fresh in their minds, England is determined to assemble a formidable squad capable of turning the tide in their favour.

Influence of the Indian Premier League (IPL)

As the cricketing fraternity closely monitors Archer’s progress, the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) has already provided a glimpse of England’s potential firepower. Notable performances by English players, including centuries from Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Phil Salt, and Will Jacks, underscore England’s batting prowess and boost their confidence heading into the World Cup.

Jofra Archer‘s presence in England’s T20I series against Pakistan next month holds significant weight not just for the series itself but also as a litmus test for his readiness for the T20 World Cup in June.

Jofra Archer’s return to competitive cricket after 11 months of hiatus due to a recurring right elbow injury has been eagerly anticipated. At 29, Archer’s journey back to form is crucial for England’s aspirations, especially with the impending T20 World Cup.

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Archer’s Current Status and Injury History

Archer is currently in Barbados, preparing to play club cricket. This move comes after a series of setbacks, including a back stress fracture, which has plagued his career since 2021.

England’s managing director of men’s cricket, Rob Key, has been instrumental in overseeing Archer’s rehabilitation. Key’s decision to withdraw Archer from the IPL reflects a cautious approach aimed at ensuring Archer’s long-term fitness and effectiveness.

Expectations for Archer in the T20 World Cup

Despite limited appearances for England recently, Archer’s inclusion in the squad speaks volumes about the team’s belief in his ability to regain his form and prowess on the field.

Archer’s potential inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad hinges on his performance in the upcoming series against Pakistan. Key’s optimism about Archer’s progress underscores the importance of his role in England’s campaign.

Rob Key told Sky Sports News, “He’s now just gone back in the Caribbean, where he is going to play a little bit of club cricket, stuff like that – all about getting himself ready for that World T20. He’ll play hopefully the Pakistan series. But it’s always fingers crossed at the moment with Jofra.”

While Archer’s immediate focus is on white-ball cricket, England has outlined plans for his return to Test cricket in 2025. His ability to consistently bowl above 90mph makes him a valuable asset for England’s Test team. England’s strategy revolves around a gradual approach to Archer’s return, prioritizing his long-term fitness and effectiveness across all formats of the game.

Managing Workload

Archer’s return could potentially bolster England’s squad, providing them with a much-needed pace attack in crucial matches. Archer’s participation in club cricket in Barbados and his recent stint with Sussex’s pre-season buildup in India signify his commitment to regaining match fitness.

Rob Key explained further, “What we’re going to do is take it slower than trying to go too quickly so that we get him back for not just a short period, we get him back for a long period. And the whole plan with Jofra is he’s going to play white-ball cricket for this summer and going into the winter. Then hopefully next summer, when we play India, then into the Ashes, we get him back for Test cricket. It’s a slow process just to get him back for all forms.”

Archer’s involvement in club cricket underscores the importance of grassroots-level cricket in honing skills and maintaining match fitness. England’s cautious approach includes managing Archer’s workload effectively to prevent further injuries and ensure his availability for key fixtures. The focus on Archer’s return to Test cricket highlights England’s long-term vision for his inclusion in the team.

Jofra Archer, the England fast bowler, showcased his skills as he bowled for a Karnataka team during a practice match against Sussex at the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) on Friday, March 15.

Archer’s Training Camp in India

Archer arrived in India as part of a 10-day training camp for his County Championship side, Sussex, in Bengaluru. The camp aimed to prepare the team for the upcoming County season, with Lancashire also participating in a similar training program in Bengaluru.

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Although Archer did not bowl on the opening day of the tour game, he joined the Karnataka team as a substitute on Friday. Displaying his talent, Archer picked up two wickets in the morning session, including a stump-breaker delivery, showcasing his rhythm and skill.

Sussex Cricket Club Tweeted:

Jofra Archer is back in action! The speedster makes an impactful return during a practice match for a Karnataka team against Sussex in Bengaluru. Picking up two wickets, including a stump-breaker, Archer showed he’s in fine form. Great to see him back on the field!

After seeing the video, cricket fans started speculating that Jofra would be featured for RCB in the upcoming IPL season.

Future Prospects of Archer

Archer has been recovering from a stress fracture in his right elbow, which required surgery following the IPL 2023 season, where he represented the Mumbai Indians. Due to the recurrence of the injury, Archer opted out of IPL 2024, focusing on his rehabilitation and workload management under the guidance of the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Sunil Gavaskar has descended vigorously on Jofra Bowman for leaving the Mumbai Indians camp halfway through the IPL 2023. Archer, who missed nearly eight months of cricket due to a recurrence of his elbow injury and only played five games for MI this year, left the IPL on May 9 before MI could finish their campaign.

The move didn’t agree with Gavaskar, who feels MI ought not be paying Bowman everything of ₹8 crore they spent on him at the IPL 2022 auction

MI’s speculation on Toxophilite has just gone downhill since they got him. In the wake of missing the whole last season, Bowman was supposed to be the solution to MI’s bowling troubles without a trace of Jasprit Bumrah. In any case, those assumptions came crashing down when Bowman seemed a pale shadow of his previous self. Archer scored 33 runs against RCB, 42 runs against Punjab Kings, and 56 runs against the same opponent in the rematch. This, while picking only 2 wickets. Gavaskar has been most offended by Archer’s attitude, with the former India captain questioning the England fast forward’s dedication to the franchise.

“What has been Mumbai Indians’ experience with Jofra Archer? They took a punt on him knowing that he was injured and would be available only from this season. They paid big money for him and what has he given in return? He didn’t seem 100 per cent fit and he should have informed the franchise about it. They only realised when he turned up and found that he was barely able to bowl at his usual pace. In between the tournament, he went abroad for treatment which is what his country’s cricket board apparently said. So he was never fully fit, but still came over. If he was committed to the franchise, who probably pay him more than the ECB does, he should have stayed right till the end even if he wasn’t going to play and show his commitment towards the franchise. Instead, he has opted to fly off back to the UK,”

Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-Day.

During the IPL, there was a report that Archer had traveled to England to see a doctor, but the fast bowler denied it on Twitter. Gavaskar also expects MI to “not be fools” and pump the entire amount assigned to Archer in his bank account now that he has officially returned home to “focus on his rehabilitation” after being ruled out of England’s Ashes squad for the five-Test series against Australia.

“A day later, a story appears that he is going to get a multi-million-pound deal with Mumbai Indians to play for their team in the various leagues in the world. This has got to be the greatest diversionary trick attempted. Mumbai Indians are not fools to sign a lame horse for any future race. Make no mistake, Mumbai Indians won’t be amused at the turn of events and now that they have come back well in the tournament without his presence, he will be lucky if he gets his full fee for the IPL and if he does then he would do well to give half to his favorite charity.”

Archers’ situation isn’t the first time a team has spent a lot of money on a player without getting the returns they expected. Kyle Jamieson ($1 million by CSK), Jhye Richardson ($1.5 million by MI), and Will Jacks ($3.2 million by RCB) have all suffered significant franchise losses this year alone. Gavaskar can’t help but emphasize this enough because it has become quite common.

“There’s simply no point paying even one rupee for a player, however big a name he may be, if he is not going to be available for the entire tournament. It’s got to be the player’s choice to pick playing for an IPL franchise or his country. Full marks to him if he chooses country over IPL, but if he chooses IPL then he has to fulfill his commitments totally and not make some excuse and leave early, especially towards the time when qualifying for the Playoffs becomes crucial,”

added Gavaskar.

“For far too long the franchises have been too lenient and allowed players to leave towards the latter half of the tournament. This is mainly a problem with English players and like said earlier, it is totally understandable to choose to play for the country, but if you have signed up for the IPL then you have to fulfill your commitments to your franchise right till the end of the tournament. If the franchise fails to qualify for the Playoffs, you get to return a week early.”

Jofra Archer is out of the English summer as he continues to struggle with his elbow injury. With a small run-up that has been used to generate a lot of pace, there were questions on his the sustainability of his action as the load on his back and elbow were pretty high.

His elbow injury first started on the India tour in 2021. He played a couple of Tests, and in the white-ball series shortly after, but the niggle started and later had led to him going on his first break. He missed out on Cricket for another twelve months with back and elbow injuries annoying him. He missed the Ashes in Australia, but was a surprise entry in the IPL Auction for IPL 2022, despite his injury leaving him in doubt for the tournament.

Despite knowing Jofra Archer will be unavailable, MI Cape Town went for him in a hope to procure his services for 2023 and 2024. A lower stress fracture further ruled him out from action throughout the 2022 English summer. Towards the end of 2022, with England touring Pakistan, Jofra Archer made a comeback for the England Lions, and looked pretty sharp as he struck Crawley on the helmet in a practice game.

He came in as a wildcard for the SA20, his first franchise appearance and was used sporadically as Archer was being phased back into competitive Cricket. The tournament worked well for him as Archer looked pretty fresh and managed to rush batters. He then went on to make his international comeback, which started poorly as South Africa took him on in the first ODI, only for Archer to take six in the Final ODI, as concerns over his workload slowly began to reduce.

Jofra Archer continued to turn up in international cricket, playing in Bangladesh as he geared up for his Mumbai debut. His debut with the Mumbai Indians did not start well though as Archer struggled for rhythm and was easy picking for Virat Kohli and Faf Du Plessis. He played a couple of games but then went on another break as the elbow issue came up again causing Archer to miss four games.

Archer did come back only to play a couple more games before being ruled out all together as England bought in Chris Jordan as his replacement. Now, after going back home in a hope of recovering for the Ashes, Jofra Archer has been hit with the news that he will not be able to make it for the English summer as the elbow continues to recover. His participation was always a doubt, but England were hoping to have him for some part of the series, especially given how he had some of the Australians under discomfort. Now though, Archer will have to wait for his Test return as he hopes to revive his international career across formats.

Kevin Pietersen, a former England cricketer, believes that Jofra Archer’s most recent injury is the final blow to his chances of playing international cricket. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Tuesday, May 16 that the pacer suffered a stress fracture to his elbow and would not play in the English summer.

The Mumbai Indians (MI), according to several media reports, have offered Archer a position. The player has reportedly been offered a contract by the team that would only keep him with MI and its sister teams in various T20 leagues around the world. The ECB will need to get MI’s blessing before they can include Archer in their international team.

Opining that taking the franchise cricket route is the better option for Jofra Archer considering his history with injuries,

“I’m gutted for Jofra. Absolutely gutted. I think this will probably end his journey with English cricket. I know that there are reports around a franchise contract, and that would be the smartest thing for him to do now. Take six months to recover, select a few tournaments to play, and bowl at the speed of light for a few months of the year. He would earn good money and still have a career in the game.” 

Pietersen wrote on his blog for Betway.

“Archer was in England’s plans for the Ashes, but his injury forced them to look at other options. The Ben Stokes-led side are already concerned with recent injuries to James Anderson and Olly Stone during the County Championship. He should now just go and cash in as much as he can in franchise cricket”,

Kevin Pietersen.

Archer is already a member of the Mumbai Indians (MI) team that competes in both the SA20 League and the Indian Premier League. Would it be a good idea for him to completely resolve to establish cricket, he will before long wear the blue tones in the ILT20 as well as the new association situated in the USA, the Significant Association Cricket (MLC).

Kevin Pietersen wrote that Archer is not to blame for the apparent end of his international career:

“I think the longer form of the game has passed him by. I think English cricket has probably passed him by.”

“It’s no fault of his own, he’s just injury prone. As much as he would love to play for England, because I know that’s his dream, it’s probably finished. He should now just go and cash in as much as he can in franchise cricket. But first of all, get himself fit.”

Pietersen continued:

Due to an injury, Mumbai Indians star pacer Jofra Archer will miss the remainder of the Indian Premier League 2023. Throughout the tournament, the star English speedster struggled with fitness issues, and he also missed five of Mumbai’s ten matches. Chris Jordan, an additional English veteran who joined Mumbai’s team last week, is named as Archer’s replacement.

The Mumbai Indians have confirmed Jofra Archer’s departure and stated that the English Cricket Board (ECB) will monitor the pacer’s recovery

Due to injury, Archer has missed numerous England matches over the past two years. The last time he played in a Test match was in February 2021. Archer is likely to be included in England’s squad for the 2023 Ashes, which begin on June 16 in Birmingham. On June 1, England will also play a one-time Test against Ireland at Lord’s, but it will be too soon for Archer to play again.

Archer’s performance in IPL 2023 was clearly affected by his struggles with injury, as he only took two wickets in five innings at a poor economy rate of 9.50. His most recent appearance was on May 6 when Mumbai played Chennai Super Kings, but he didn’t take any wickets and defended 139 runs.

Jasprit Bumrah and Jhye Richardson, Mumbai Indians’ star pacers, missed the entire IPL 2023 tournament due to injuries. Fans were expecting huge exhibitions from Bowman however the right-arm pacer neglected to stir things up around town. Cameron Green, Riley Meredith, Duan Jansen, and Jason Behrendorff are likewise battling for consistency as Mumbai Indians sit in the eighth situation in the focuses table with only five successes from ten matches after match no.53.

Rohit Sharma-drove side will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in their next game at Wankhede Arena on May 9.

Mumbai Indians Squad: Rohit Sharma(c), Ishan Kishan(w), Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Tim David, Nehal Wadhera, Jofra Archer, Piyush Chawla, Akash Madhwal, Arshad Khan, Kumar Kartikeya, Ramandeep Singh, Dewald Brevis, Raghav Goyal, Vishnu Vinod, Riley Meredith, Shams Mulani, Arjun Tendulkar, Tilak Varma, Hrithik Shokeen, Duan Jansen, Sandeep Warrier, Jason Behrendorff, Chris Jordan

Jofra Archer, a pacer for the Mumbai Indians and England, has reportedly reacted negatively to reports that he traveled to Belgium for an elbow procedure during the current IPL season. The 28-year-old also criticized “the reporter” for spreading information “without knowing the facts and without my consent.” Over the past few years, he has struggled with injuries and was unable to make the national team for the 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups. Regardless of realizing that the player wouldn’t partake in IPL 2022, MI obtained the administrations of Toxophilite during the IPL super closeout last year.

Archer, who made his MI debut against Royal Challengers Bangalore, has only appeared in two of the five-time champions’ seven games thus far.

There were rumors that Archer had flown to Belgium during IPL 2023 to have an elbow procedure. This raised questions about his fitness.

In any case, Archer has hit out at the reports and, surprisingly, got down on the columnist for taking advantage of the circumstance for “individual addition”.

“Putting out an article without knowing the facts & without my consent is crazy. Who ever the reporter is shame on you , an already worrying and troubling time for a player and you exploit it for your personal gain, it’s people like you that are the problem,”

Archer tweeted.

Up until this point, Jofra Archer has played two matches in IPL 2023, with only one wicket to his name

Archer, who got back to global cricket recently, is likewise looking at a spot in the Britain crew for the impending Cinders series against Australia.

England are hopeful that the Barbados-born pacer will play some in the five-match series, which begins with the first game on June 16 at Edgbaston, Birmingham.

England Test captain Ben Stokes hopes to have “superstar” bowler Jofra Archer “fit and ready” for next summer’s Ashes. Following a succession of elbow and back injuries, the 27-year-old quick hasn’t played an international fixture since March 2021- a T20I against India in Ahmedabad – while his most recent Test outing came a month earlier against the same opponents.

However, Archer is progressing well in his recovery, featuring for England Lions in a warm-up fixture against the Test squad in Abu Dhabi, and is keen to play “all formats all year round” when he returns to the international stage. He currently has 13 Test caps to his name, taking 42 wickets at 31.04. Addressing Archer’s Test future on Sky Sports, Stokes revealed his desire to have the Sussex bowler at his disposal against Australia next summer but will not “rush him back” into action.

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Ben Stokes wants Jofra Archer “fit and ready” for 2023 Ashes

“It’s been great to see him out here. It’s great to see him running back in with ball in his hand and bowling fast. He’s one of the superstars of the international game and it’s really good to have him back around the group,” Stokes said. “I bowled with him this morning and he said, ‘Any injuries [in Pakistan] skip, let me know’, but I think he’s just really excited to be back. “He’s had a long time off with injury and as exciting as it is, we’ve got to be careful not to rush him back because we don’t want to see Jofra on the sidelines for this amount of [time] again.

“Hopefully, we can have Jofra fit and ready for the Ashes. That’s something we’re looking at and it would be great to have him available for selection.” Stokes’ caution echoes that of both Archer and ECB managing director of men’s cricket, Rob Key, with the latter admitting the bowler still has “quite a long way to go” in his recovery. That recovery is set to include a stint with MI Cape Town in the inaugural edition of the SA20 league in South Africa and turning out for Mumbai Indians in the IPL.