Eng vs Aus 4th ODI – Jofra Archer returns to England’s fast line-up as caution looms

Five years on, this latest performance has provided further confirmation of the ECB’s investment in that talent, with a broken spine and elbow, currently taking the form of a two-year average contract awarded last October. But the emotional and physical toll has been on Archer. And for the first time in a while, if you’ll forgive the tentative ending, the light at the end of the tunnel seems a lot brighter.

“I’m still in the park and it’s almost the end of summer,” said Archer. “So for me that’s a step. I wanted to play for the summer, then I want to play for a year, then I want to play for a few years. So everything will work out.

“I think the World Cup was a good check. This was a good sign. The Caribbean [England’s white-ball tour in November] it will be another good check mark. I hope to play many games there. For now, I’m happy to play. I’m sorry to repeat myself but I have nothing else to say about it. I know I’ve been out, it’s been a while, but I’m playing cricket again and I’m just having fun.”

When he removed Mitchell Marsh’s stumps with a leg-breaking delivery nearing 90mph, and snared Glenn Maxwell caught behind, Archer showed his ability and pace to be more valuable than ever. Even at the end of a full four-month period compared to his latest result, he looked relieved. “I feel good – do I look good?” he asked. He did so.

The next stages of his development will be developed by design. A well-intentioned attempt to schedule a return by the end of 2022, which involved working out of the SA20 and IPL to recover, ended badly when he re-fractured his right elbow in the early summer of 2023. Lessons have been learned, and any talk of Test cricket has been put on hold until 2025, with England’s first Test that year at the end of May against Zimbabwe. In the Lord it is.

With five Tests to go against India, and the 2025-26 Ashes, Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes will be keen for Archer to feature in this marquee series – especially the latter. So, men’s managing director Rob Key still has a chance to recover, with England physio Craig de Weymarn in talks with Sussex immediately.

Archer remained steadfast in his next assignment, because it was not solely in his hands. As he said, he expects to feature in the limited overs series in the Caribbean between the Test Tours of Pakistan and New Zealand. There is no doubt that McCullum will be looking for him in the Champions Trophy in February, which will be the coach’s first big job when he takes charge of the white-ball teams early next year.

“Well, you’d have to talk to Craig or Keysy, to be honest,” Archer said, when asked what was on the horizon. “But for me, I’ll go series by series. And the next thing is that I’ll have some time off after Bristol, so I’m looking forward to that.”

As for Archer’s role in reviving England’s white-ball set-up, his experience in the dressing room will be as important as his skills. He turns 30 next April and has two World Cups under his belt, as well as franchise experience in five different overseas competitions. This return to action comes with additional responsibility.

“I’m one of the three senior players, two of whom have won the World Cup,” he said, referring to his long-time partner Adil Rashid, who is a two-format champion following his 2022 T20 World Cup triumph. “So yes and no.

“A lot of the guys in and around, yeah, they didn’t play in 2019, but a lot of them played right after that. They’re there and they’ve played a big role in their districts. It’s not like you’re guarding anybody here. Everybody’s looking at themselves, and Brooky [stand-in captain Harry Brook] he takes care of everyone.

“It’s strange to see the team change. One day I’m playing warm-up football in the junior team and a few weeks later I’m in the old team. It was a shock, but everyone is looking forward. .”