Brendon McCullum is increasingly confident that Jofra Archer will return to Test cricket this summer.
Optimism has been hard to extract from England’s woeful Champions Trophy campaign, but the sight of Archer scything through the defences of both South African openers at its end was a reminder of his fast-bowling gifts ahead of two seismic series this year.
For England, his presence in the Ashes next winter is viewed as an essential component of plans to wrest back the urn after eight years in Australian hands. Before that there is the matter of a five-match campaign against India starting in June.
‘I’ll sit down with some of the players after this and work out what their ambitions are. I would imagine Jof would be keen to play Test cricket this summer,’ England coach McCullum said.
Archer has not played a first-class match since May 2021 due to stress fractures in his elbow and lower back, but has had his physical robustness built back up slowly by the ECB’s medical team to the point where he sent down 29 overs, the most of any England bowler, during this tournament.
His combined figures of 36-1-230-7 in one-day internationals this calendar year – steady rather than spectacular – part of long-term scheduling mapped out at the start of the 2024 home summer.
Brendon McCullum is increasingly confident that Jofra Archer will return to Test cricket
Archer has not played a first-class match since May 2021 due to multiple injuries
Archer has been coy talking about his fitness issues, understandably so given the angst injuries have caused during his career, but he appears to be meeting the appearance targets presented to him on a PDF file just under 12 months ago.
‘Jofra’s been out of competitive cricket for a couple of years, it’s taken a little bit of time to get that rhythm of game play back but I think he’s been really good,’ McCullum added.
‘He’s bowled high-pace, he’s played a lot of cricket, he’s been able to get a significant workload under his belt throughout this tournament.
‘We know how great Jofra is at the very top of his game and to have him back, fit and excited about playing is a real win for English cricket.
‘If you can add him to the battery of fast bowlers you’re trying to build then it only strengthens the squad.’
One complication in readying Archer for the rigours of a Test match is that he will be with Rajasthan Royals at the Indian Premier League from the end of this month to late May. The ECB initially blocked his participation in this year’s event, but relented on the eve of the auction.
However, it is likely that he will be given a programme of extra bowling in the nets, mirroring that of India’s fast-bowling Test hopefuls who are being provided with red Dukes balls to aid their own preparation.
It is understood that India’s board are also considering taking an unprecedented step of calling a short training camp for its Test squad during the IPL, such is the concern at recent away results against England. Since a 1-0 win in 2007, India have lost 13 Tests across four series.
