If you were hoping to see Jofra Archer take part in England’s Test summer, you’ve run out of luck.
The Ashes villain has been ruled out of the red ball summer, with England set to host the West Indies and Sri Lanka for a total of six Tests.
But don’t fear if you’re still eager to watch the fast bowler in action, with confirmation he’ll have a staged return to the game according to England cricket manager Rob Keys.
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“The whole plan with Jofra is he’s going to play white-ball cricket for this summer and going into the winter,” said Key on Sky Sports.
“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.”
Archer has been struggling with injuries in recent years, namely suffering a stress fracture in his right elbow last summer.
He missed the whole Test summer due to that injury.
The 29-year-old signed a two-year contract with England last October, but hasn’t played Test cricket for the country since February 2021.
“Jofra’s been out at Sussex’s pre-season in India and bowled quickly out there. He bowled really well,” Key said.
“He’s now just gone back to the Caribbean, where he will play a little bit of club cricket, stuff like that.
“It’s all about getting himself ready for that T20 World Cup.”
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.
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.
