Chris Jordan says Jofra Archer’s wickets on his first England outing for 438 days gave him ‘goosebumps’ as he hails his close friend’s resilience for overcoming elbow injury troubles

Jofra Archer has brought a ‘different mood’ to the England dressing room, according to teammate Chris Jordan, with less than a week to go before they fly to the Caribbean to defend their T20 World Cup title.

Archer took two for 28 in England’s 23-run win over Pakistan in the second T20 at Edgbaston on Saturday – his first international appearance in 438 days after a seemingly endless period of rehabilitation for his right elbow, which left him feeling like a ‘hamster on an elbow’ felt. wheel’.

And Jordan admitted Archer’s first international wicket since March 2023 had given him ‘goosebumps’ after his teammate and close friend wondered about his future in the sport.

“He probably woke up for a few days and thought maybe it wouldn’t happen again,” he said. “So, bless him, I feel like in the last six months I’ve seen a change in his vibe and his mindset and all that. He seemed very happy when he stepped back onto the field.

“He may not have looked like it, but I bet he was pretty nervous. He comes in with the bat, hits a six to get us to a reasonable total and then does what he does with the ball. For everyone who is a fan of his, it is great that he is back.’

Archer played a starring role in his return from injury by taking two wickets in the 23-run win over Pakistan

Archer’s first over had cost 15, but he removed Azam Khan with his seventh delivery and then dismissed Imad Wasim in his final over.

“When he gets the first one out, it gives goosebumps to see him take that wicket,” Jordan said. ‘He’s phenomenal. It’s great to be out of international cricket for so long, doing 90mph and looking like he’s never been away. And he will continue to get better with games.

‘He brings an atmosphere of another level. Every batsman who came out immediately thought of the bouncer. That in itself gives a different dynamic to the bowling attack.”

Jordan has been close to Archer for a long time. Both men were born in Barbados and worked together in Sussex before Jordan joined Surrey. And they kept in touch during Archer’s lengthy recovery, with Jordan weighing the advice he could give his friend.

“Sometimes you can say too much,” he said. ‘You can be a bit repetitive. Because you care, you try to check in as much as possible. Other times he probably had to make the journey himself, find his own way, his own mentality. And honestly, he did most of it himself.”

Jordan himself is making something of a comeback: Edgbaston was only his fifth T20 since the World Cup final victory over Pakistan in Melbourne in November 2022. But he is earmarked for the death overs and hopes to add six hits to No. 8 .

Jordan said there were days when Archer wondered if he would ever play cricket again

Jordan celebrates after taking the wicket of Mohammad Amir in Saturday’s T20 win

Along with former West Indies captain Kieron Pollard, who has been added to England’s backroom squad, he hopes to bring local knowledge to the dressing room, with the first two World Cup matches taking place in Bridgetown against Scotland and Australia.

“I’ve played so much cricket at Kensington Oval,” he said. ‘Nothing has been done for a few months, so we’ll have to see if the pitch has changed. But it is hugely important to have people like Polly in our ranks because he is one of the few players who has more than 10 or 15 T20 titles.

“He knows what to look for, so the guys are excited to have him in the group and we’re going to pick his brain.”

The third match against Pakistan will take place in Cardiff on Tuesday with England looking to clinch the series.