Worries for India as 150 kph Tearaway Fast Bowler Set to Return to England's Squad

England have received a big boost ahead of the second Test against India at Birmingham. Fast bowler Jofra Archer is hopeful of making a return to Test cricket after he played a four-day County match for Sussex against Durham at Chester-le-Street. This was his first red-ball game in four years and he bowled with full pace.
Notably, Archer bowled 14 overs on Day 2 of the match. He picked up one wicket. The pitch was reported to be “docile” by the Daily Mail, however, Archer looked in rhythm. He said that he was happy to complete a full day’s play. “I’m glad I’ve finished a day of four-day cricket,” Archer told the Daily Mail after the game. “Last time I played, I made it only till tea. So today was a big step forward.”

Jofra Archer Test Comeback On the Cards

This County match is seen as a trial for Jofra Archer Test comeback. Archer has not played a Test since 2021. Since then, he has been recovering from several injuries. The most serious one was an elbow injury that took a long time to heal. Despite all the setbacks, Archer has always wanted to return to Test cricket.

“I guess I looked fine today. You’d have to tell me, but I felt fine. Now that I know my body can hold up, the next challenge is mental”, he said. Archer also admitted that playing a full day of cricket again is not easy. He also said the real test now is to stay mentally strong. “Over the next couple of days, I’m going to have a battle with the mental side. But it’s all good. I’ll keep going,” he added.

Huge Relief For England

Since there were no restrictions on his workload during the match, Archer bowled without any limits. This is important because in a real Test match, bowlers don’t get to follow fixed limits.

“When the scoreboard got to 50 overs, I thought, ‘Jesus, it’s time to come off now,’” Archer joked. “But I made it to the end of the day. I bowled 14 overs. Who knows how many I’ll bowl tomorrow? There’s no limit. There can’t be. In a Test, you need to be ready to bowl whenever.”

The England team management is watching his progress closely. Archer’s return would be a big boost for England, as the ongoing IND vs ENG Test series is going on. If he continues to do well, Archer might be picked for the remaining matches of the series.

The England selectors would also be thinking long-term as they would want Archer to be fit and ready for the Ashes in Australia later this year. Test cricket in Australia can be tough, especially for fast bowlers. So getting match-fit in the India series could help Archer prepare.

Jofra Archer has often stated that his goal is to play Test cricket again. After several injuries and surgeries, his comeback is an emotional journey. He has worked hard during his rehab. Archer’s pace, skill, and ability to bowl long spells make him a valuable player in the red-ball format.

If he stays fit, he can become a key part of the England bowling attack again. England's bowling attack wasn't up to the mark in the first Test against India. Archer's comeback will give them a huge boost ahead of a long summer.