Jofra Archer To Make His Comeback Through County Championship, Named In The 13-Man Sussex Squad Against Kent

England fast bowler Jofra Archer is set to make his return to first-class cricket through a County Championship game this week, after being sidelined due to multiple injuries.

He has been named in Sussex’s 13-man squad to take on Kent; last week Jofra Archer bowled 29.2 overs, picking up a couple of wickets for Sussex’s second XI against Surrey 2nd XI.

The speedster was ruled out of the IPL 2021, which now stands suspended, for a freakish hand injury that he sustained while cleaning a fish tank at his home in January; he was also battling an elbow injury throughout the tour of India.

He would be partnered by Ollie Robinson and the returning George Garton on his return, which would his first first-class match for Sussex since September 2018.

Jofra Archer to prove fitness for home New Zealand Tests

Jofra Archer last appeared for England in the 5-match T20I series against India in Ahmedabad. He then missed the ODI series and the IPL for the Rajasthan Royals.

This week’s fixture against Kent will be crucial for indication of the pacer’s fitness before England host New Zealand for a 2-Test series starting June 2nd.

“Any team in world cricket would be excited to name Jof in their squad for a game. Everybody is aware of his talents. Are we going to force him to come back when he’s actually England’s player? Say he gets an injury and he can’t play in the Test matches this summer – I wouldn’t be very popular,” said Ian Salisbury, the club’s head coach for Championship and List A cricket.

The 26-year-old pacer was England’s leading wicket-taker at the 2019 World Cup and also bowled the super over in the final, helping the Three Lions clinch their maiden 50-over World Cup trophy. Jofra Archer had taken Test cricket by storm with his scintillating Ashes performance, following the World Cup. He now has 42 Test wickets in 13 games.

The ECB is expected to announce the squad for the New Zealand Test by next week; Ashley Giles, the managing director of England men’s cricket, has hinted that the squad will then enter a bubble during the round of Championship fixtures starting May 27.

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