Jofra Archer could go into the Ashes without any first-class cricket in over two years after Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace confirmed that he is unlikely to play any red-ball cricket before the first Ashes Test.
The five-Test series begins at Edgbaston on June 16. Archer enjoyed a brilliant 2019 series, taking 22 wickets in his four Tests at an average of only 20.27, and hit Steve Smith on the head during a memorable spell bowling at the Australian batsman at Lord’s.
England have identified Archer’s pace and height as a crucial asset if they are to win the Ashes for the first time since 2015. But, after a major elbow injury and a stress fracture in his back, Archer has not played a single first-class match since May 2021, when he last appeared for Sussex.
He will spend the next two months playing for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. Archer has enjoyed a highly encouraging return from injury for England in white-ball cricket so far this year, but his last Test appearance came in India in February 2021.
“I think all things being equal, he will go straight into the Ashes off the back of the IPL,” said Farbrace, who is Sussex’s new head coach.
“That’s the nature of international franchise cricket these days. I know there’ll be a lot of people saying he should play at least two four-day games to be ready for a Test match’ but the preparation and the work that the medical teams do around these players is exceptional.
“I think their plan is that between IPL games he’ll then bowl some longer spells to get his overs up and make sure that he is match-ready.”
England’s medical teams will be in regular contact with all English players appearing in the IPL. The fitness of Archer and captain Ben Stokes, who has recently had an injection to help fight an injury in his left knee, will be a particular concern for England. Before the Ashes, England have a Test against Ireland, starting on June 1. That fixture is just four days after the IPL concludes, rendering Archer unlikely to appear.
“England are not daft,” Farbrace said. “They know that keeping the likes of Jofra fit for the Ashes will be really important to win the Ashes.
“They are saying: ‘How can we make sure that we get Jofra prepared to play the Ashes and be the best version he can be?’ They’ve got a lot of good people around that squad who we need to trust and allow them to do their job.”
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