Jofra Archer Ashes update given as he eyes Test return after two-year lay-off

30 March 2023 , 13:10

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England quick Jofra Archer is currently out in India for the IPL (Image: Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

England quick Jofra Archer is set to "go straight into the Ashes off the back of the IPL", Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace has revealed.

Archer is currently out in India where he is set to play for the Mumbai Indians, having been bought by the franchise at last year's auction for 8 crore (£789,000). Mumbai are set to play their first game on April 2 and the tournament will culminate with the final on May 28.

Should Mumbai fail to qualify for the knockouts, their final group game is set for May 21 meaning Archer could play for England in their Test against Ireland at Lord's which begins on June 1.

The 27-year-old has only recently returned to action after needing operations on his elbow and back and last played Test cricket for England in February 2021. His last first-class game came in May 2021, when he played for Sussex against Kent.

As a result of his injury problems over the last few years, it appears England are reluctant to risk him breaking down before the Ashes and he will not feature against Ireland. "I think all things being equal, he will go straight into the Ashes off the back of the IPL," Farbrace told BBC Radio Sussex.

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"The England plan for Jofra is he'll go and play in the IPL. I think their plan is that between IPL games he'll then bowl some longer spells to get his overs up and make sure that he is match-ready.

Archer has not played Test cricket since February 2021 due to injury (Visionhaus)

"That's the nature of international franchise cricket these days. I know there'll be a lot of people saying 'he should play at least two four-day games to be ready for a Test match', but the preparation and the work that the medical teams do around these players is exceptional."

Due to his IPL commitments, there will be no opportunity for Archer to play in the County Championship for Sussex and the player himself recently admitted it would be a "bonus" if he was able to play in more than one Ashes Test this summer.

"If I can play one game this summer, I'll be happy," he said earlier this month. "If I play more than one, that's a bonus."

Matthew Cooper