19 January 2023 , 11:33
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England white ball captain Jos Buttler says Jofra Archer's return to action is "exciting", but warned not to "expect too much from him too soon".
Archer is set to play his first international game in almost two years after being named in England's squad for the upcoming ODI series against South Africa, which begins later this month.
However, having last played a professional game back in July 2021, Archer has been turning out for MI Cape Town in the inaugural edition of the SA20. And the 27-year-old has impressed on his return to action, picking up four wickets at an average of 19.00 in his three appearances.
Archer came up against his skipper in his first match back and Buttler, who has been playing for Paarl Royals, was impressed with his return. "It is exciting to bring someone like Jofra back into the squad," Buttler told Sky Sports
"I played against him in the SA20 and he was getting it down at a fair pace. It must have been incredibly tough for him to come back after such a long period of time.
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"When we see him, his performance level is so high but coming back from long-term injuries, don't expect too much from him too soon.
Jos Buttler says Archer's return is "exciting", but warned fans not to "expect too much from him too soon" (Stu Forster/Getty Images for ECB)"It is fantastic to see him back on the pitch, doing what he loves doing, and in such a huge year for English cricket, with an Ashes series in the summer and then a [50-over] World Cup later in the year, fingers crossed Jofra will available for all those things."
England Test captain Ben Stokes is also excited by Archers' return, having tweeted "BUZZING BUZZING BUZZING to see @JofraArcher back on the field" after his first game for MI Cape Town.
And Stokes is desperate for Archer to be involved in this summer's Ashes, having stated in September that it is "scary to think where things could go" for England's new-look Test team with Archer back in their ranks.
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