Injury-prone Jofra Archer mustn’t be rushed back to play in England’s second Test in opposition to India at Edgbaston regardless of the tempo bowler’s latest comeback to red-ball cricket, feels former captain Michael Vaughan.
Archer performed in his first first-class match in 4 years throughout Sussex’s County Championship recreation in opposition to Durham at Chester-le-Street on Sunday and took one wicket for 32 from 18 overs.
The 30-year-old has not featured in a Test since 2021. England selector Luke Wright mentioned earlier this month that if Archer comes via the four-day recreation for Sussex, he might be out there for the second Test, which begins on July 2.
But, Vaughan feels in any other case, preferring Archer to play one other four-day recreation.
“The good thing is that Jofra is back in the equation, but I’d like to see him play another four-day game,” mentioned Vaughan on ‘BBC Test Match Special’.
“He’s not played the longer format for four years so why, on the back of one game for Sussex against Durham, would you rush him back?
“We know the depth at Test-match stage is so totally different to county cricket. Let him play one other four-day recreation. I might go together with the identical line-up, so long as the bowlers are high quality and there are not any niggles.”
Sussex stint
Archer finished with figures of 1-32 from 18 overs in Durham’s first innings, his sole wicket being that of opener Emilio Gay, but Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace also urged England to “be cautious” with the pacer.
“If I used to be of their (selectors’) scenario, my trustworthy reply would be that I might save him (Archer) for the third Test match. You have to be cautious that he is solely bowled 18 overs of red-ball cricket,” Farbrace was quoted as saying in TheGuardian.
“Why change the staff? They’ve simply received the Test at Headingley. They’ve set themselves up properly for the collection.
“I would be definitely sticking with Chris Woakes for Edgbaston because he knows the pitch inside out,” the previous England assistant coach mentioned.
Farbrace will, nonetheless, report that Archer “looks in great rhythm, he bowled very nicely.” “(But) Rather than playing back-to-back games and then straight into a Test match, probably the best scenario would be to not play in our game but then be ready for the third Test match. But that’s their call,” he added.
Injury plagued profession
Archer emerged as considered one of England’s most fun prospects in 2019 when he bowled the decisive tremendous over within the residence World Cup win, earlier than taking 22 wickets in 4 Tests within the Ashes collection that adopted.
But since then he has been stricken by damage — an elbow problem that first surfaced in 2020 wanted a number of surgical procedures and he additionally had a stress fracture of the back in 2022.
As a end result, Archer’s frequent makes an attempt to return to worldwide cricket have been stop-start.
He was anticipated to play within the white-ball collection in opposition to West Indies however damage his thumb whereas taking part in within the Indian Premier League.
