Jofra Archer ‘one of the best bowlers’ England have had; but must be used wisely

Archer, who last played a Test in February 2021 against India, was named in England’s squad for the second match of the ENG vs IND Test series.

Jofra Archer’s impending return to Test cricket has been a product of a meticulously managed, long-term plan, designed to prevent any further injury setbacks following his extended absence from the red-ball format.

Earlier this week, Archer, who played for Rajasthan Royals and took 11 wickets in IPL 2025, was named in the squad for the second England vs India Test, to be held in Birmingham.

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The pacer recently made his red-ball return for Sussex in a County Championship clash against Durham.

Featuring in a first-class match after four years, Archer impressed with tidy figures of 1/32 from 18 overs in the first innings, claiming the wicket of opener Emilio Gay.

Allaying fears of a rushed comeback, England and Wales Cricket Board director Rob Key reiterated that Archer’s build-up has been gradual and carefully managed to ensure the pacer is physically ready for the demands of Test cricket.

“Jofra has been in a long period where he's been building up and building up (in white-ball cricket). The temptation could have been to rush him back sooner,” said Key. “But actually we've gone down this road to make sure that we're in this position now where we're thinking about playing him.”

Archer, who last played a Test in February 2021 against India, has been backed by Key to join the ranks of England’s finest fast bowlers.

“He could be one of the best bowlers we have had. And you only do that by doing it in Test cricket. Hopefully for the next few years we'll be fortunate enough to see Jofra have the chance to stake that claim,” Key insisted.

However, the ECB director also stressed the importance of using Archer strategically to maximise his effectiveness and longevity.

“These are impact players. You don't want them doing other roles. That's where you need complementary skills, so you can share a bit more of the work. The temptation at times with Jofra is that he can do a bit of everything,” Key said.

“But you've got to use him when he can impact the game and Ben (Stokes) is one of the best at that. You have got to be smart with how you use them so they can help you win a game,” he added.

Jofra Archer has claimed 42 wickets from 13 Tests at an average of 31.04, including two six-wicket hauls during the 2019 Ashes series.

The second England vs India Test will begin on Wednesday at Edgbaston, Birmingham. The England cricket team won the first match, leading the series 1-0.

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