- 44 Comments
For the second Test against India at Edgbaston, England have chosen an unchanged lineup, which will add another delay for Jofra Archer’s return.
After missing four years of service, Pace bowler Archer returned to the squad, but he had a family emergency that prevented him from attending Monday’s training session.
Before the second Test, which will begin on Wednesday, England announce that the 30-year-old will rejoin the squad in Birmingham on Tuesday.
Jasprit Bumrah, an option for the tourists, is available, according to India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, but they may choose not to use him in the circumstances.
He was a member of the team that Headingley defeated in its first Test last week, and India has committed to playing him in just three of the five tests.
Archer, who became famous in 2019 and started playing in international competitions in 2019, hasn’t played a Test since 2021 due to a number of back and elbow injuries.
He played for Sussex in the County Championship last week, taking one wicket in 18 overs, and has since been carefully nursed back to fitness on a diet of white ball cricket.
After such mediocre first-class bowling, both former England captain Michael Vaughan and Sussex coach Paul Farbrace both warned against rushing Archer back to the Test field.
Archer will remain with the national team in the final two days of Sussex’ Championship game against Warwickshire, which was scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Chris Woakes, who are playing on his ground, will once again be England’s unchanged XI.
One of the England squad members from the time Archer made his international debut, Woakes, described him as “putting in some seriously hard yards to get himself back in shape and a physical state to be at his best.”
related subjects
- England Men’s Cricket Team
- Cricket
Source: BBC
Leave a Reply