Jofra Archer's long-standing comeback in the red-ball format was supposed to happen on next week. However, there is a slight twist in the tale as his County Sussex did not want anyone to know when they had listed a 12-member squad on Saturday, June 21. Sussex named the squad for their County Championship match in Durham, with the pacer's name missing from it from the list shared.
England selector Luck Wright had informed earlier this month that the premier quick bowler was set to make a comeback from his long-standing injury at Chester-Le-Street, and there were some serious concerns that he had broken down again. However, the former England player quickly confirmed that the squad Sussex published on their official website was not the right one and that Archer will finally wear the white jersey for the first time in four long years today.
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The pacer has not featured in any first-class game since Sussex's County Championship match with Kent in May 2021, a match he did not play entirely after breaking his right elbow.
Jofra Archer eyeing Test return after complete rehabilitation
For the unversed, Archer's last red-ball game came in India, earlier in May 2021, while he has yet to play a home Test match since 2020. The 30-year-old was last seen playing competitive cricket for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season. However, he could not play all games for the side as he suffered a thumb injury. If the pacer plays the entire County game against Durham, he could be in contention for a Test call-up for the second Test match against India on July 2.
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England is pretty desperate to have a fully fit Archer in the Test team for the India series as well as the upcoming winter's Ashes Down Under.
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