Jofra Archer, the England fast bowler, might not make the cut for the upcoming T20I series against India due to his recurring elbow injuries. The issue which first came to the fore in the Cape Town Test against South Africa in 2020 has now put his participation in the future T20I series in doubt. The T20I series is scheduled to get underway on Friday, March 12 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Jofra Archer missed the last Test against India due to the same elbow issue. Earlier in 2020, he was also diagnosed with a stress fracture.
Jofra Archer made his Test debut at Lord’s against Australia last year. (Source: Reuters)
England Will Be Monitoring Situation Of Jofra Archer Who Trained With Limited Over Squad: Chris Silverwood
In the meantime, Chris Silverwood, England’s head coach, stated that pacer Jofra Archer won’t be undergoing surgery at the present point in time and the matter is being discussed with the England and Wales Cricket Board’s medical team. Chris Silverwood also said that Jofra Archer will be monitored before a decision on his participation in the T20I series is taken.
“Jofra’s elbow did flare up a little bit and the medical staff is managing that at the moment. Obviously, we’ll monitor his progress. The medical staff is talking about how we deal with this long term. He’s trained today with the white-ball squad. We’ll be monitoring his situation,” Silverwood was quoted as saying in ESPNcricinfo.
Chris Silverwood, England head coach Getty Image.
“I’ll be guided by the medics. We’ll see where we end up with him. I want Jofra to be fit for all forms of cricket. I want him to have a long, successful Test career,” he stated.
Jofra Archer didn’t have the greatest of times in the India Tests. He picked 4 scalps in 2 Tests averaging 30.5. So far, in 13 Tests he has 42 scalps.
Jofra Archer Was Included In 16 Member England Squad For T20I Series
Jofra Archer bowled a total of 35.1 overs in the entire series and a mere five overs in the third Test in Ahmedabad. He also didn’t play the second Test at the Chepauk due to his elbow issue, though the ECB said that the injury was not linked to any previous condition.
“Could we limit the number of overs he bowls? It’s not something I would go out and predict but we’ll find out in the course of time. The important thing for me at the moment is that Jofra gets every resource we can provide to make sure he does have a long and successful Test career,” Silverwood added.
As far as the T20I squad is concerned, England have named a strong team featuring likes of skipper Eoin Morgan, Sam Billings, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Chris Jordan, Sam Curran and Tom Curran.
India have also named a strong team recalling Rishabh Pant and including consistent performers in domestic cricket and IPL- Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan. Rahul Tewatia and Varun Chakravarthy failed fitness test despite being named in the 19 member squad.
England captain Eoin Morgan and India captain Virat Kohli hold the series trophy. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
England have announced a 16-man squad for the upcoming T20 series against India. England and India will take on each other in 5 T20I matches.
Liam Livingstone got a call-up after the batsman impressed in the recently-concluded Big Bash League. Jos Buttler returns to the T20 squad, after not being a part of the final 3 Tests against India. The rest of the squad is the same one that played a 3-match T20 series against South Africa last year. Jake Ball and Matt Parkinson will also travel to India as reserves.
