England fast bowler Jofra Archer will make his first Test appearance in over four years in the Lord's Test against India.
Jofra Archer to play first Test match since February 2021
Archer, 30, has had issues with injury over the past four years, leading to an extended spell out of the England set-up. He has been a regular in white-ball cricket of late, but the return to first-class, and Test, cricket has taken longer.
The pacer had been set to turn out for England Lions against India A in May, until a thumb injury put paid to those plans. Instead, he made his return to first-class cricket for Sussex against Durham in June, his first match in the format since a Championship game against Kent in May 2021. He sent down 18 overs, taking 1-32, and even scored 31 with the bat from No.10.
His last Test cap came in February 2021, at Ahmedabad during England's tour of India. The Lord's Test, which begins tomorrow, will be his 14th Test – at the same venue where he debuted against Australia in 2019.
Read more: England add star seamer to squad for Lord's Test after Edgbaston hammering
Josh Tongue makes way for Archer
Archer's inclusion for the third Test has come at the expense of Josh Tongue, who took 4-86 & 3-72 at Headingley, and 2-119 & 2-93 at Edgbaston. Despite a solid enough 11 wickets in two Tests, Tongue's control appeared largely inconsistent across the first two Tests.
The rest of the England lineup remains as is. Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse retain their spots as the other two quicks, and Shoaib Bashir as the lone spinner. The top seven is unchanged, with wicketkeeper Jamie Smith still listed at No.7 on the eve of the match, despite calls from outside to move him up after an impressive outing at Edgbaston.
England playing XI for third Test against India
- Zak Crawley
- Ben Duckett
- Ollie Pope
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook
- Ben Stokes (c)
- Jamie Smith (wk)
- Chris Woakes
- Brydon Carse
- Jofra Archer
- Shoaib Bashir
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