Watch: Jofra Archer took his first first-class wicket for over four years today (June 23), as he made his case for England Test selection in Sussex's Championship match against Durham.
The fast-bowler pinned Durham opener Emilio Gay lbw with a full delivery that thumped into his front pad. Archer wheeled away in a celebrappeal, only briefly turning to look back at the umpire to check the decision. That breakthrough came after Sussex lost their final wicket in the morning session of day two, bowled out in their first innings for 361. Archer made a 34-ball 31 coming in at No.10.
This match marks a significant milestone for Archer, who was slated to play in the ongoing England-India Test series before picking up an injury at the back-end of the IPL. Having been plagued by injuries for the majority of his career, this is Archer's first first-class game since May 2021, when he played for Sussex against Kent and took three wickets in the game, including Zak Crawley among his victims.
Archer's last Test match appearance was three months before, in February 2021. Following the match against Kent, he was ruled out of the rest of that year's action with an elbow injury, and underwent surgery that December. A stress fracture in his lower back kept him out for most of 2022. He returned to international cricket in 2023, and has since built up his workload in England's white-ball games.
Having successfully stayed largely injury free for over a year, Rob Key floated the possibility of Archer's Test return in the England-India series. However, that return was threatened to be pushed back when Archer made a late entry to the 2025 IPL auction after facing the possibility of being banned from the competition for three years if he didn't enter. The length of the competition meant that Archer wasn't able to build up his red ball workload before the Championship went on hiatus in May.
In the run-up to the series, England national selector Luke Wright said England's plan was for Archer to be available for the second Test at Edgbaston, which begins on July 2.
Watch: Jofra Archer takes first first-class wicket in over four years
Jofra Archer's first first-class wicket in over four years. He's back 👏#CountyCricket2025 | #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/ghCzkH70O5
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) June 23, 2025
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