Jofra Archer is set to miss England’s upcoming one-day internationals against West Indies due to a thumb injury picked up while playing in the Indian Premier League for Rajasthan Royals. This setback may also impact his anticipated return to red-ball cricket with the England Lions against India.
Archer incurred the injury when fielding in a close one-run defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders earlier in May. Initially, it seemed a minor issue but was later diagnosed as ligament damage. With the IPL’s suspension, Archer opted not to rejoin his team in India for the competition’s resumption.
Originally included in England’s 16-player squad for the ODIs starting on May 29 at Edgbaston, Archer will now be under the care of England’s medical team for the next two weeks to evaluate when he might resume playing.
In his absence, left-arm seamer Luke Wood from Lancashire will join the squad. Wood was already called up for the following T20I series occurring in June, but he has yet to make a notable impact in his two prior ODI appearances in 2022-23, during which he failed to take any wickets.
Archer was not named for the T20I series, hinting at a potential return in a four-day match with England Lions against India. Scheduled from June 6-9 at Northampton, this match could have marked Archer’s return to first-class cricket after four years, his last appearance being for Sussex in 2021.
England’s selectors recently confirmed a 15-man squad for two England Lions matches, led by Somerset’s James Rew and featuring Chris Woakes, who will play his first matches of the season. This squad might expand to include potential participants like Archer and Ben Stokes, who is gradually recovering from hamstring surgery.
Archer has dealt with a string of injuries over the past few years, including multiple elbow surgeries and a stress fracture in his back. He made a comeback for England in the T20 World Cup last year and also played in the Champions Trophy before the IPL.
Archer continues to be a crucial component for England, and there’s hope he’ll recover swiftly and effectively, allowing fans to see him back in action quite soon.
