England’s national selector Luke Wright on Thursday (June 5, 2025) stated star pacer Jofra Archer could return for the staff’s second Test against India subsequent month, 4 years after his final look within the conventional format.
The second Test of the five-match collection is scheduled to be held from July 2-6 at Edgbaston.
Archer, 30, has not performed first-class cricket since 2021 as a consequence of a collection of accidents, and was not thought of for choice for the primary Test at Headingley as he works his means again from a damaged thumb suffered on the recently-concluded Indian Premier League.
“Joff’s trucking on really well, actually. The plans for him, he’s playing a few second-team games,” Wright stated.
“The plan is for him to play a few second team games, loading up in the second team for Sussex. And then the idea for him is to play for Sussex against Durham during the first Test.
“So, he’ll play for Sussex if all issues go nicely, after which if all issues go nicely fingers crossed he needs to be accessible for the second Test,” Wright, a former teammate of Archer at Sussex, added.
“Like something with all these bowlers, he is received to maintain ticking issues off on a regular basis with no setbacks but when all goes nicely and he will get by way of that Durham recreation then he is accessible probably for choice for that second Test.”
The thumb injury also saw him miss England’s ODI series against the West Indies between May 29 and June 3.
India will play the first Test at Headingley (from June 20), the second at Edgbaston (from July 2), the third at Lord’s (from July 10), the fourth at Old Trafford (from July 23), and the final at The Oval (from July 31).
England’s fast-bowling department looks thin on firepower and experience in the absence of Archer and speed merchant Mark Wood.
Wood has been lacking cricketing motion as a consequence of a knee harm he suffered in March, which had dominated him out for 4 months.
However, in line with Wright, Wood could be in rivalry for the latter half of the India collection.
“I feel Woody’s now began bowling simply calmly, to be sincere. He’s simply off a couple of paces, however that is been an excellent signal,” Wright said.
“So, he is on the highway to restoration. I feel he is extra long-term, if we are able to get him again, he may need an possibility for the fourth or fifth Test. But once more, every day it is ticking off every field and ensuring he is okay,” stated the previous England batter.
Published – June 05, 2025 07:34 pm IST
