Archer hasn’t played professional cricket since May of last year, despite being a major contributor to England’s World Cup victory in 2019.
England hopes to have a completely fit Jofra Archer available for the T20 World Cup later this year, despite the star fast bowler’s ongoing rehabilitation following a recurrence of his long-standing elbow problem.
Archer, who played an important role in England’s World Cup victory in 2019, has not played professional cricket since May of last year. He did, however, train with the England white-ball team on their December Caribbean tour.
“Our plan is to gradually build him up for the T20 World Cup,” England’s director of cricket Rob Key said on the BBC’s ‘Tailenders Podcast.
The ace right-arm pacer has been injured for the past three years. He returned to white-ball cricket in Q1 2023, playing three T20Is and four ODIs.
However, he sustained a recurrence of his right-arm elbow injury during the IPL last year, forcing him out of action once more.
When England faced the West Indies in Archer’s native Barbados at the end of last year, he played for his former school team without the knowledge of the England administration.
“I saw him bowl in the Caribbean, and it was as if he hadn’t been away. “I don’t want to go back to this situation where he plays and then falls,” Key added.
The Mumbai Indians, Archer’s team, released him after he was also ruled out of this season’s IPL. While recovering from an elbow injury, he appeared in a few games for the Mumbai Indians during the most recent IPL season, although he wasn’t at his best.
Archer traveled to Belgium for a brief operation while playing in the Indian Premier League.
“This time, we said no to Archer’s request to play in the IPL.” In the hopes of extending his career, he hopes to make up for the lost years. Key remarked, “He has such a gift.”
