Jofra Archer has been added to England’s 15-man squad for next week’s second Test against India at Edgbaston, raising the prospect of his first red-ball appearance since March 2021.
The selectors have resisted wholesale change after the five-wicket win at Headingley, tweaking only the pace department. Archer joins a seam pool that already features Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Jamie Overton and Sam Cook. Ben Stokes again captains a group otherwise unchanged.
Archer’s inclusion follows a low-key but important outing for Sussex at Chester-le-Street, where he delivered 18 overs for figures of 1 for 32. It was his first first-class match in more than three years, a period interrupted by a recurring right-elbow injury and a back stress fracture.
Speaking midway through that championship fixture, the 29-year-old accepted that the longer format poses a different challenge. “It felt all right today,” he said. “I’ve been playing for a year, and bowling for two years, including the build-up, so everything is fine. Now it’s a different challenge, because I know my body can hold up to it. The mental part of the game [will be tough]. Over the next couple of days, I’m going to have to battle a bit with it, but it’s all good. It’s a new challenge, and I’ll keep trucking along.”
Whether the management risk Archer straight away or hold him back for Lord’s a week later is undecided. England have two back-to-back Tests, and rotation of fast bowlers remains likely. Tongue, player of the match at Headingley with 7 for 158, appears difficult to leave out. Stokes chipped in with five wickets of his own, while Carse’s extra pace offers variety. Woakes, returning from an ankle problem, managed only one wicket in Leeds but tends to improve with overs under his belt.
Former England quick Steven Finn believes Archer’s mere presence can lift the dressing room. “If Jofra is fit enough to play even 15-20 overs across a Test, that’s match-changing,” Finn said on BBC Radio 5 Live. “The key is not to rush him, because England will want him all summer.”
India, meanwhile, may consider bolstering their batting after collapsing on the final afternoon in Leeds. Vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah warned his side against dwelling on the defeat. “We were in the game for long periods; we need to close sessions better,” he told reporters.
The Edgbaston Test starts on Wednesday. A fresh surface and mixed June weather in Birmingham usually favour seam, though overhead conditions often decide how much movement is on offer.
England squad: Ben Stokes (capt), Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes
