Is Jofra Archer Making a Comeback to England’s Test Squad for the Match Against India?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Jofra Archer makes his comeback to the England Test squad after injuries.
- He last played Test cricket in February 2021.
- Archer aims to bolster England's chances in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
- England leads the series 1-0 against India.
- Archer's performance could be pivotal at Edgbaston.
New Delhi, June 26 (NationPress) The fast bowler Jofra Archer is set to rejoin the England Test squad for the first time since February 2021. He has been named in the lineup for the second match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against India, which kicks off at Edgbaston on July 2.
After facing a setback due to a recurring elbow injury and a stress fracture in his back, Archer has been mostly absent from Test matches since early 2021. He recently made his return for Sussex in the County Championship against Durham at Chester-Le-Street, where he achieved figures of 1-32 in 18 overs—his first red-ball match in four years.
A thumb injury suffered while playing for the Rajasthan Royals during the Indian Premier League (IPL) in May had further postponed his return to first-class cricket, causing him to miss England’s white-ball series against the West Indies.
The 30-year-old pacer, whose last Test appearance was against India in Ahmedabad over four years ago, is eager to add to his tally of 13 caps and 42 wickets at an average of 31.04 when he steps onto the field at Edgbaston next week.
It remains uncertain who will step aside from the playing eleven to make room for Archer, with Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse competing for a spot after strong performances in the first game. Sam Cook, Jamie Overton, and Jacob Bethell will maintain their positions in the squad.
Currently, England leads the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series 1-0, having achieved a thrilling five-wicket victory with a successful chase of 371 at Headingley. A win at Edgbaston would set the stage for them to secure the five-match series in the third game at Lord’s, beginning on July 10.
England squad: Ben Stokes (captain), 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, and Chris Woakes.