Archer’s IPL U-turn has disrupted the New Zealand tour and poses an even bigger problem for next year’s Ashes

November 21, 2024 9:56 am

If the chat is true and Jofra Archer has indeed added himself to the list for this weekend’s Indian Premier League mega auction then it will come as a slap in the face to England and their hopes of winning the Ashes in Australia next winter.

The fast bowler was missing from the 574-player roster named last week for the latest IPL auction that starts in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. i had been told this was Archer’s decision and lauded him for prioritising Test cricket.

Yet it appears he had his arm twisted to get to that position and the prospect of a ban for future IPLs if he missed this year’s auction – not to mention the prospect of yet another multi-million pound deal – forced him to reconsider his position.

There’s no doubt this is hugely embarrassing for England, whose coach Brendon McCullum, captain Ben Stokes have had their preparations for the upcoming Test series in New Zealand disrupted by this story.

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It matters because it means a bowler who has not played Test cricket for almost four years probably needed to play the early rounds of the County Championship next summer if he wanted to give himself the best possible chance of a Test return.

England’s main aim is to get Archer fit for the Ashes series that starts in Perth in exactly a year’s time (November 21, 2025).

Playing in the IPL is problematic because it increases Archer’s physical workload – an issue for a player whose long history of serious injury means his plan to play Test cricket could be torpedoed by one more issue.

He also probably needs to play some part of the home series against India next summer to get into the right place for the Ashes.

And to do that he really could do with playing for Sussex in the Championship from the start of April rather than trekking around India for the IPL.

It’s far from ideal for England, Archer or indeed Test cricket given what a difference the fast bowler could make on those Ashes if he is fit and firing.