England‘s managing director, Rob Key, has affirmed that Jofra Archer is under consideration for participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup scheduled for June in the West Indies and USA. Archer, who has been absent from England’s squad for over a year, is also being considered for selection in the T20I series set to take place at home against Pakistan next month. His potential return intrigues England’s cricketing landscape in the coming fixtures.
Jofra Archer’s Injury:
In the last three years, the 29-year-old has faced a barrage of injuries, particularly grappling with stress fractures, which have significantly disrupted his regular on-field appearances. Since March 2021, he has been part of the England squad in only seven instances. Furthermore, his involvement in just five IPL matches for the Mumbai Indians last season yielded modest results, with only a couple of wickets to his credit. These persistent challenges underscore the uphill battle the player continues to face, prompting valid concerns regarding both his physical endurance and current performance levels.
Archer’s Mighty Comeback in T20 WC:
Despite the obstacles he’s faced, England remains optimistic about Archer’s potential return to peak form. He was a traveling reserve for last year’s ODI World Cup in India, indicating the team’s continued belief in his abilities. Additionally, the ECB awarded him a two-year contract, demonstrating their long-term investment in his talent and their hopes for his successful comeback.
Rob Key said, “ What we’re going to do is take it slower rather than trying to go too quickly so that we get him back for not just a short period but we get him for a long period.”
On his possible presence in the T20 World Cup, Key said, “ Jofra has been out with Sussex in India for pre-season and bowled quickly out there, he bowled really well. He has now gone back to the Caribbean where he’s going to play a bit of club cricket, all about getting himself ready for that T20 World Cup. He’ll hopefully play the Pakistan series, but it’s always fingers-crossed at the moment with Jofra.”
Rob Key has clarified that Jofra Archer will not participate in Test cricket this year, with emphasis solely on white-ball cricket in 2024. However, there are aspirations for Archer to make his Test comeback against India in the summer of 2025. This strategic decision reflects the team’s prioritization of Archer’s recovery and readiness for specific formats of the game.
He said, “ 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 and then onto the Ashes, we get him back for Test cricket. It’s a slow process to get him back for all forms.”
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