England fast-bowler Jofra Archer could be available to make his Test comeback in the second match of their series against India next month, four years after his most recent appearance in the format.
Archer was not named in England’s squad for the first match of the series, which will begin on June 20. He had been due to play for England in their ODI series against West Indies but was ruled out after picking up a thumb injury during the IPL. The injury also made him unavailable for England Lions series against India A, which was likely to be his red-ball comeback.
However, England Men's selector Luke Wright revealed this morning that Archer would make his return in the format for Sussex this month in their second XI fixtures, with the plan for him to play the side's Championship fixture against Durham later this month. Should Archer's fitness hold during those fixtures, he will likely be available for selection in the second Test of the series against India at Edgbaston.
"Jof's also trucking along really well actually," said Wright. "The plan is for him to play a few second team games, loading up in the second team for Sussex. And then the idea for him is to play for Sussex against Durham during the first Test. So he'll play for Sussex if all things go well, and then if all things go well fingers crossed he should be available for the second Test.
"Like anything with all these bowlers, he's got to keep ticking things off everyday with no setbacks but if all goes well and he gets through that Durham game then he's available potentially for selection for that second Test."
Jofra Archer is likely to feature for Sussex in their County Championship fixture against Durham ahead of a possible Test comeback against India, confirms England selector Luke Wright.#JofraArcher #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/iUeDGTo5JP
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) June 5, 2025
Archer's international career has been heavily disrupted by injury since he made his Test debut in the 2019 Ashes. Since his last Test match, in February 2021, he suffered an elbow injury which kept him out for the rest of that year as well as the 2021 and 2022 IPL seasons. A lower-back stress fracture kept him out of the 2022 English domestic season and that winter's T20 World Cup. He returned to international white-ball cricket in early 2023, before picking up an injury in that year's IPL which kept him out for the following summer.
Having been a regular fixture in England's white-ball games since, he was a late entry to this year's IPL auction this year after new rules were announced banning players who did not enter that auction from entering for a further two years. The ECB had hoped to keep him out of the tournament in preparation for the India series.
Archer's potential fitness will be a boost to England's depleted fast-bowling ranks. Mark Wood and Ollie Stone are likely to miss the entirety of the India series, while Gust Atkinson has been ruled-out of the first Test with a hamstring injury. Chris Woakes, Sam Cook, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue have been named as the pace attack for the first Test.
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