Jofra Archer makes his England return after a near-TWO-YEAR absence from international cricket
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England fast bowler Jofra Archer makes his long-awaited return after a nearly TWO YEAR absence from international cricket in the opening one-day match against South Africa.
- Jofra Archer returned to attack for England for the first time since March 2021
- The bowler has undergone two elbow surgeries and a stress fracture in his back
- Archer’s first ball was clocked at 87mph, but South Africa gave him a rocky start.
England fast bowler Jofra Archer made his long-awaited return to international cricket in the opening match of the one-day series against South Africa.
The 27-year-old began his return to England by bowling the second at Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein.
Archer’s first ball on his return was clocked at 87mph, suggesting his injury nightmare has not affected his ability to bowl with pace.
Jofra Archer returned to action for England during the first ODI against South Africa on Friday
The 27-year-old fast bowler’s first pitch on his return to England was clocked at 87mph.
South Africa’s opening batsmen Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock gave Archer a challenging start on his return, with his first five overs coming at the cost of 41 runs.
Archer admitted before the series that he is currently 80 percent fit as he steps up his comeback.
The fast bowler has faced a series of injury setbacks over the past 22 months, forcing his absence from the England set-up.
The South African openers scored 41 runs in Archer’s first five overs in the one day match.
The fast pitcher required two surgeries to repair an elbow injury and was expected to return last summer.
He was then diagnosed with a stress fracture in his back, which led to another period of rehabilitation.
Archer won his 43rd cap for England in all formats, with captain Jos Buttler hoping the bowler would be ‘better and better’ after his return.
England are expected to handle Archer’s return by making consecutive matches out of bounds, as well as potentially limiting the number of overs he bowls initially.
Archer has been given advice to get better and better as he progresses in his return to action.
Archer has admitted that he may need to tune up his body in the next ‘two, three, four months’ to become more resilient.
Archer bowled the Super Over in England’s World Cup final victory over New Zealand in 2019, as well as taking 22 Australian wickets in the Ashes series in the same year to launch his Test career.
The fast pitcher has expressed hopes of repeating this year.