New Delhi: England quick Jofra Archer might just be able to play in the second Test against India at Edgbaston next month, assuming that he is able to prove his fitness to the England selectors when he plays for domestic side Sussex against Durham at Chester-Le-Street later this month. This will be his first first-class appearance in four years, which is reportedly putting him in frame for a Test comeback for England.
According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, England’s national selector Luke Wright has said that Archer can be roped in for England’s second Test against India, which will be played in Birmingham. 30-year-old Archer was out of first-class cricket due to a succession of injury issues, including undergoing multiple surgeries on his troublesome right elbow and a back stress fracture.
He was also earmarked for a red-ball comeback for England Lions, against India A in their second unofficial Test beginning Friday, but was sidelined due to ligament damage in his thumb, which he sustained while fielding in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 last month. He now approaches a return to action as England face a defining eight months of Test cricket, including the five home Tests against India and an away Ashes tour, with selectors wanting to pull him back into the mix.
“Jof’s also trucking along really well actually. The plan is for him to play a few second-team games, loading up in the second team for Sussex. And then the idea for him is to play for Sussex against Durham during the first Test (June 22-25). Then, if all things go well, fingers crossed, he should be available for the second Test,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Wright as saying.
Archer’s last first-class outing came for Sussex against Kent in May 2021 before the recurrence of his elbow fracture. Prior to that, his last Test for England was against India in Ahmedabad in February that year. To date, he has claimed 42 wickets at 31.04, with two superb six-wicket hauls in the 2019 Ashes. For the last four years, Jofra Archer has only been playing white-ball cricket for the Three Lions.
“Like anything with all these bowlers, he’s got to keep ticking things off every day with no setbacks. But, if all goes well and he gets through that Durham game, then he’s available potentially for selection for that second Test,” Wright added.
England’s other fast-bowling concerns
Along with Archer, there are many other English fast bowlers currently on the trail of a comeback. Mark Wood and Olly Stone both underwent knee operations in March and April, respectively, but Wright says the duo is back to bowling off a few paces and could come into consideration in the latter half of the India Tests.
Gus Atkinson, who was named England’s player of the summer in 2024, is also missing from England’s first Test squad for India, after sustaining a hamstring injury during the Zimbabwe Test.
England squad for 1st Test vs India:
Ben Stokes (c), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes.
England’s five-match Test series against India begins on June 20 at Headingley, before back-to-back games at Edgbaston (July 2-6) and Lord’s (July 10-14). Old Trafford (July 23-27) and Kennington Oval (July 31 – August 4) will host the fourth and the fifth Test, respectively.
Jofra Archer last featured for England in whites during the nation’s 2021 tour of India and if a report is to be believed, he is likely to return for the Three Lions in Tests, against India as well. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
