England quick Jofra Archer will travel with the England Lions squad for training in the UAE in November, with the side taking on the national team in the Middle East in a three-day game in the build up to the Test series against Pakistan.The 27-year-old is expected to be back in action soon after a long-term injury break.
This will be the latest step in Archer’s rehabilitation and recovery process after the right-arm quick was ruled out of the 2022 English summer with a back stress fracture. The player has not represented England since the India tour early last year and last played competitive cricket in July 2021.
He had been sidelined with an elbow issue earlier, which required a surgery, before suffering a back-stress fracture. Archer has been trying to make progress in recent times, and return back to action by early 2023.
“I rang Jofra to talk to him about this training camp and he said to me, ‘this is the first positive selection call I’ve had in a long time’. We had a bit of a giggle about the fact that all he’s had is difficult injury news recently and he’s missed having someone tell him he’s been picked for something,”
ECB performance director Mo Bobat said.
“He’s in a good place mentally and is really excited about getting back involved. He’s been bowling at reasonable volumes and intensity. One of the dangers is rushing people back too quickly so what we’re trying to do with Jofra is build that really strong base of bowling over a period of time.”
The England Lions camp will run from November 6 to 27, with seamers Saqib Mahmood and Brydon Carse too being a part of the rehabilitation process.
