Jofra Archer makes red-ball return to close in on Test comeback against India
Jofra Archer has closed in on a return to England Test whites after making a return to first-class cricket for the first time in four years.
Archer, batting at No 10, made a crucial 31 for Sussex at Durham and is in line to bowl on Monday after making a comeback to the County Championship.
The 30-year-old has not represented England in red-ball cricket since February 2021 having taken 42 wickets in his first 13 Tests after a series of injury issues.
His latest set-back came during the IPL, with a thumb injury ruling him out of England's white-ball series against the West Indies and delaying his return to the longer format.
Archer could yet feature in the second Test against India at Edgbaston next week, provided he proves his fitness for Sussex.
'He's been absolutely desperate to put the white shirt back on," said England skipper Ben Stokes ahead of the first Test at Headingley.
"He's had a torrid run with injuries, but he's managed a fair bit of white-ball cricket recently. The fact that we can now put a structure in place for his red-ball return is a great sign."
Sussex have confirmed that Archer is able to play a full part in their Championship encounter at Chester-le-Street, with the quick bowler not limited in terms of workload by England. He and Mark Wood, also working his way back from injury, bowled in the nets before play under the observation of England's elite pace-bowling coach Neil Killeen.
Archer then showcased some of his strokeplay with the bat, hitting three fours and a six in a brisk 31 to help talented young batter James Coles reach his century in a key ninth-wicket partnership of 57.
Sussex ended day one on 322/9, with Coles unbeaten on 117. Dutch all-rounder Bas de Leede was the pick of the home bowlers with figures of 4/83.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
31 minutes ago
- BBC News
QPR midfielder Andersen to leave club
QPR midfielder Lucas Andersen will leave the Championship club when his contract expires at the end of the 30-year-old joined the Rs in February 2024 from Aalborg and made 51 appearances, scoring three goals."QPR has been one of the best places I've been as a whole - my team-mates, fans, stadiums and the football heritage is unmatched," the Dane told the club's website, external."It's always been my goal to not only be remembered as the footballer but also a good human being."My family have loved every second of living in London. And we are definitely coming back."Andersen came off the bench to set up Michael Frey's equaliser on his debut in a 2-2 draw with Norwich City in February went on to make 16 appearances for the Hoops as they steered clear of relegation last season, scoring in their 4-0 victory over Leeds United at Loftus opened this season with defeat to West Bromwich Albion, with Andersen scoring their only goal in a 3-1 came off the bench in his side's final-day victory at Sunderland in what would prove to be his last appearance for the club.
BBC News
36 minutes ago
- BBC News
Garnacho supports Rashford in social media post - what do you think?
BBC Sport's Chief Football reporter Simon Stone says Alejandro Garnacho's recent social media post will not come without backlash from Manchester United have told BBC Sport that it is nothing more than support for his team-mate - but we want to know what you you think Garnacho was wrong for this social media post, or is it being blown out of proportion by some Manchester United fans? Tell us here
The Sun
43 minutes ago
- The Sun
I was replaced on the BBC by Gary Lineker and haven't spoken to him since, I knew he was the wrong man in the wrong job
GARY LINEKER was the wrong man to present the BBC's live golf coverage, claims the man he replaced. Steve Rider, who hung up his mic over the weekend, left the Beeb in 2005 to join ITV. 3 3 With Rider, now 75, having presented the BBC 's live golf coverage prior to his exit, the Corporation opted to replace him with Match of the Day host Lineker. Rider initially kept quiet about his replacement, until in 2015 when Lineker took a swipe at the R&A in St Andrews. The former England captain was upset with the R&A's decision to flog rights to the Open, previously held by the Beeb, to Sky Sports. Lineker called the R&A "pompous" and "superior" - which Rider took issue with. The veteran presenter called Lineker at the time "the wrong man in the wrong job", before adding: "Gary was honest enough to step aside from the golf, but his attack on the R&A was sour and misguided in the extreme." Rider has now claimed that Lineker "blundered" into politics during an interview with the Telegraph. Reflecting on the presenter's controversial BBC exit, Rider added: "To put forward his opinions so energetically, you need to step outside the framework of the BBC. "That message was never convincingly conveyed to him by the BBC, and that's where they are at fault. 3 "He needed people looking after him before he pressed the button on some fairly volatile retweets. He needed to be saved from himself. So, there was a kind of inevitability about it." Rider has not spoken to Lineker since criticising his swipe at the R&A a decade ago. During his stint with the BBC, Rider hosted Sports Personality of the Year alongside Des Lynam. Taking aim at the current incarnation of SPOTY, the outgoing ITV stalwart said: "The commercial aspect took over. "The thinking was, 'Let's take it to a 5,000-seat arena with a big shiny floor'. It killed the chemistry. "Unfortunately, this happened just as the BBC's involvement in sport started declining. "Now it's very, very uncomfortable to see. It's not the type of programme you would invent now. "It has become a bit of a ball and chain.'
