Smith's Ashes nemesis named to end exile for England
Jofra Archer has been selected in England’s provisional squad for the T20 World Cup, setting up a much-awaited international return for one of cricket’s most exciting bowlers whose career has been derailed by injuries.
The 29-year-old Archer has barely featured for England in any format since 2021, mainly because of ongoing issues with his right elbow for which he has undergone two operations. A back injury ruled him out of most of 2022.
The Barbados-born pacer was a breath of fresh air after switching nationality to be eligible for England ahead of the 2019 Cricket World Cup, which he helped his adopted country win on home soil. Then he played a starring role in the Ashes that year.
Archer has struggled to reach the heights of the 2019 Ashes series where he made a name for himself. The fast bowler didn’t appear in the first Test but played at Lord’s. Archer tortured Steve Smith with a fiery spell in the second Test before hitting him in the back of the helmet with a bouncer which forced him out of the match.
Jofra Archer bowling during the 2019 Ashes.
The fast bowler took his first five-wicket haul in the longer format on day one of the third Test. Archer was handed his first ECB central contract after the series.
England will hope he stays fit to play in a four-match Twenty20 series against Pakistan and then the World Cup, which is being held in the Caribbean and the United States.
England’s opening match is against Scotland on June 4 at Kensington Oval in Barbados, which Robert Key — managing director of England men’s cricket — said would take on extra poignancy for Archer.
“He’s special,” Key said on Tuesday.
“You do everything you can to try to get him back playing. We have taken the longer road this time.
“As always with Jofra, it’s fingers crossed until he’s out there playing. You know when you’re waiting for something really good to happen, you don’t quite believe it until it’s there.”
Archer will play white ball cricket.
Archer, who hasn’t played competitive top-level cricket since May 2023, is currently out of the limelight and playing some club matches in the Caribbean to get himself match-sharp. He might get some matches for English county team Sussex before the Pakistan series, when England will put his fitness to the test.
In a recent interview, Archer said he didn’t know “if I’ve got another stop-start year in me”.
“I know it has been a massive toll on him,” Key said.
“He hasn’t been around for a while now but every single thing he does creates noise and I think mentally it’s been tough.
“That’s why we made sure we try and get it right, let him go back home, spend some time in Barbados, doing the training there rather than staying in England all the time.
“It’s always been a balance with Jofra, trying to take into account his mental well-being and actually how we get him ready for what we need. Fingers crossed he gets a bit of luck he deserves really.”
Also in the 15-man squad announced on Tuesday were Jonny Bairstow and Will Jacks, who have hit big knocks in the Indian Premier League in recent weeks. Left-arm spinning allrounder Tom Hartley is the sole uncapped player in the group.
Key said players featuring in the IPL — the list also includes Jos Buttler and Phil Salt — would be returning to England for the Pakistan series starting on May 22, even if that means missing the latter stages of the IPL. The final is on May 26, with the playoff matches beginning May 21.
England will be captained by Buttler, with the team seeking a second T20 World Cup title.
England: Jos Buttler (captain), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, Mark Wood.