Jofra Archer: I’m fully back – now I want to play in the Ashes

The 27-year-old fast bowler – who made an immediate impact for England after his debut in 2019, taking 42 wickets in 13 Tests and playing a leading role in their 50-over World Cup triumph – returned to action on Wednesday after 16 months out. He bowled nine overs for England Lions, and hit Zak Crawley on the head with a lively bouncer, on the first day of their warm-up match against England’s Test side in Abu Dhabi.

Archer had not played since March last year because of an elbow injury, which required surgery, and then a lower-back stress fracture. The England management are determined not to rush his full return, but the Sussex bowler still hopes to feature in all three formats in international cricket.

“Yesterday [Wednesday] was a really, really big day,” he said. “A small day but still a big day. I will say I’m fully back.

“Obviously, to get back to the first team is my No 1 priority, but also getting back there as safely as possible. I’d rather take these last few months very seriously, more serious than probably all of the rehab, because once this phase goes right, then it can set me up for the next three-to-four years injury free.

“I would love to play every game, but I don’t think the physio would let me. Our squad is strong enough that I can play all formats all year round.”

Archer’s schedule is set to include a brief appearance for MI Cape Town in South Africa’s new T20 franchise league in January, followed possibly by a return to England colours in the one-day international series there, which is squeezed in between the group and knockout stages of the T20 league.

He is not in the squad to travel to Pakistan for the three-Test series next month, nor is he likely to feature in the Tests against New Zealand in February.

The target, in terms of red-ball cricket, will be playing a part in the Ashes, with the first Test at Edgbaston starting on June 16.

“I’m more than prepared to do some extra bowling and stuff in and around some other cricket, just to put my name in the hat [for that series],” Archer said.

“I feel sore – the usual when you bowl. Nothing to worry about at all. It’s weird feeling this way again. This is probably the best soreness I’ve ever had after bowling. I’ll take this.”

Archer missed out on England’s T20 World Cup win this month, his injury denying him the chance to add to his 50-over medal from 2019. He spent most of his time away from the game in Barbados and said he tried to avoid watching cricket.

“You’ve just got to take yourself away a little bit,” he said. “It’s not that you’re not supporting the lads or anything like that, but you’ve got a long time away and you’re no help to the lads or yourself if you’re just droning in the background, feeling down.”

Archer had his turn with the bat on the second day of the warm-up game, hitting four fours and three sixes as he contributed an unbeaten 39 from 15 balls to the Lions’ 412 for nine, in reply to England’s 501 for seven declared. Haseeb Hameed, the opener who was dropped after a difficult Ashes series in Australia last winter, scored 145, sharing in a 179-run first-wicket stand with Tom Haines (82). Rehan Ahmed, the 18-year-old leg-spinning all-rounder, celebrated his call-up to the Pakistan tour with 26 from ten balls.

Rob Key, England’s managing director of men’s cricket, has revealed that although Ahmed was only officially called into the squad this week, it had been the hope all along to draft him in.

“The plan for Rehan was that we always looked to bring him into the squad,” Key said yesterday (Thursday). “This is the best way to aid his development. He is a serious talent, but he might be four or five years off being the finished product.

“If needed, he can play and do a good job for us with bat and ball.”

Will Jacks and Jack Leach each took two wickets while James Anderson, preparing for his first Test appearance in Pakistan after 19 years of international cricket, ended the 172-ball stay of Hameed, his former Lancashire teammate, when he trapped him leg-before. This was a timely century for Hameed, 25, in front of Brendon McCullum, England’s red-ball head coach, as there is still uncertainty about their opening partnership in Tests.

However, Crawley appears to have received the backing of the selectors and it is likely that the recalled Ben Duckett will also get the nod for the first Test.

– The Times

Originally published as Jofra Archer: I’m fully back – now I want to play in the Ashes