Jofra Archer to be dropped after just 2 Tests on his long-awaited comeback

England National Cricket Team skipper Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum have received stern advice to drop Jofra Archer just two matches into his Test comeback.

The pace-bowling legend Stuart Broad has told the England team management not to risk Jofra Archer and rest him in the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025.

Jofra Archer performing well on his Test comeback

The 30-year-old right-arm quick Jofra Archer made his comeback to the England Test team after four years in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025.

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He made it to the squad for the first time since March 2021, as his constant elbow and back injuries had forced him to miss many matches and kept him totally out of the England Test setup.

Archer proved his fitness in a first-class match for Sussex in the County Championship against Durham, where he bowled 18 overs and picked up one wicket.

Jofra Archer was kept on the bench for the Edgbaston Test despite being in the squad, and was finally unleashed in the Lord's Test. He returned with figures of 2/52 and 3/55 in the high-voltage match against India that England won in a stunning fashion.

Archer was retained in the playing XI for the fourth Test match at Old Trafford in Manchester, where he bagged three wickets for 73 runs in the first innings and one wicket for 78 runs in the second innings.

I think Gus Atkinson has to play - Stuart Broad

Speaking ahead of the fifth Test match, Stuart Broad said that England should include Gus Atkinson in the playing XI along with Josh Tongue for the Oval Test and provide rest to Brydon Carse, who has given "absolutely everything", as well as Jofra Archer.

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"I think Gus Atkinson has to play. I know he has not had any workload, but we need to see him. He hasn't been really challenged against top-level opposition in Test cricket yet. [Brydon] Carse looked knackered in the fourth Test. He has been a trier and given absolutely everything, but looks like his legs have left him for this series, so Atkinson gets the nod," Broad said as quoted from Sky Sports

"[Josh] Tongue started the series, and I know he mainly got lower-order players out, but you probably have a natural replacement for Archer."

We can't not have Archer for four years - Stuart Broad

Stuart Broad further said that pushing Jofra Archer to play three back-to-back matches on his return is not ideal, and the tearaway quick should be protected with the Ashes in mind. He stated:

"We can't not have Archer for four years, bring him back and then bowl him into the ground and not see him for another four years. This is a big Test, but so is the Ashes. England must think long-term. Pushing Jofra now could come at a serious cost later."

Nasser Hussain was on the same page as Stuart Broad and stated that Gus Atkinson should play at his home ground in London against India, and Jofra Archer should be kept out of the playing XI.

"I don't think you can have Archer playing three on the bounce coming back after four years. Gus Atkinson coming back after a long time, and then Stokes with a niggle as three of your four seamers - but I would definitely play Atkinson on his home ground if fit," Nasser Hussain said.