"Look what Australia did with Pat Cummins"- Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan debate on Jofra Archer's management by England

Former England captain Michael Vaughan and legendary Australian wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist shared their insights on Jofra Archer's potential comeback to Test cricket and the importance of managing his fitness amid the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Jofra is currently playing in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, and the speedster looks in good touch, finishing with impressive figures of 3/40 during England’s narrow seven-run defeat against South Africa in the Super-8 clash of the tournament on June 21 in Saint Lucia.

Notably, Archer underwent two separate surgeries in 2021 for the elbow injury, and he even sought treatment in 2022 in Belgium. But the recurring nature of his injuries kept him away from the game for more than two years, especially Test cricket. However, he is now back in action in full swing.

Michael Vaughan hopes Jofra Archer won't get injured anytime soon

Vaughan emphasized the challenging journey Archer has faced and expressed hope that Archer can remain fit to put pressure on Australia in the upcoming Test series. The cricket pandit acknowledged the need for patience as Archer prepares for his comeback after the ongoing mega event.

Michael Vaughan said on Cricbuzz Live: “He's (Jofra Archer) had to do the hard yards and we're all just, you know, touching wood that he can stay fit for a period and it's just going to take time this year to try and get him ready for test match cricket, but if he can and he's right in a year and a half's time, I know we're moving on from this T20 World Cup, but he will be having to be fit to kind of put Australia under some pressure.”

Meanwhile, legendary Australian Adam Gilchrist echoed similar sentiments, expressing excitement about seeing Archer face off against top players like Steve Smith again. Gilchrist pointed out that England must manage the star pacer, just as Australia handled Pat Cummins' prolonged absence from the game due to back issues.

He mentioned that Australia invested and nurtured Cummins carefully, and now he has become a key player for the national side, urging for the same treatment for Archer. The legendary cricketer recalled that Cummins made his Test debut for Australia in 2011 at age 18, and then it basically took him five and a half years to play Test cricket.

England needs to invest in Jofra Archer as Australia did for Pat Cummins: Adam Gilchrist

He was out of the game completely for two and a half years with back troubles. But Australia saw his talent, and they knew the value that he was going to give Australian cricket for a long time, and the rest is history.

Adam Gilchrist said on the same show, “It's not only English fans that want to see him fit, we all do. You want the match-up of him and Steve Smith again and all those various things. England, you know, I don't know the finer detail about the elbow injury and how it was managed, but they need to manage it as well as possible, give him as much time, nurture him. Look what Australia did with Pat Cummins. they invested in him, gave him time, gave him the support, everything around him to get him back, and look where Pat Cummins is now.”

In a light-hearted moment, Vaughan hilariously asked Gilchrist if Archer could follow a path similar to Cummins, potentially becoming England's captain, winning the ODI World Cup, and achieving remarkable feats such as taking a hat-trick in the T20 World Cup like the Aussie star did recently.

Vaughan joked: “So, Jofra is going to end up being the England captain! He's going to win a World Cup. And then he'll end up with a hat-trick in a T20 World Cup as the non-captain a few months after.”