SA vs ENG: "He's Only Just Coming Back To Competitive Cricket, This Will Be His First International Game For A Long Time" - Jos Buttler Confirms Jofra Archer's Comeback

England will take on South Africa in the first One-Day International of the three-match series at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Friday, January 27. The white-ball skipper Jos Buttler expressed his delight at Jofra Archer’s return to the English team and confirmed that the fast bowler would play an international match after almost two years.

Jofra Archer made a comeback to professional cricket by representing MI Cape Town in the inaugural edition of the SA20. The 27-year-old impressed as his franchise’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament, taking eight wickets at an average of 18 in five games. He has been sidelined since March 2021 due to a stress fracture and elbow problems.

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It’s Just Fantastic To See Him Fit – Jos Buttler

Speaking ahead of the first ODI against the Proteas, Jos Buttler believes that Jofra Archer’s return will benefit England immensely. The England opener said that Archer will continue to get better over time by playing.

“It’s great to have Jofra back, fit and playing cricket again. I speak on behalf of everyone that he’s such an exciting guy to have back on the field. As an England captain, being able to have him back in your squad and the team is brilliant. He’s only just coming back to competitive cricket, this will be his first international game for a long time,” Buttler said, as quoted by Sky Sports.

“It would be naive to think it wouldn’t take him a little bit of time to get up to 100 percent. It’s just fantastic to see him fit, back playing again and we know he’s just going to get better and better as time goes on,” he added.

The right-arm pacer was one of the reasons for England’s triumph in the 2019 World Cup at home, as he was their leading wicket-taker with 20 wickets in 11 games at an average of 23.05. Archer played 13 Tests, 17 ODIs, and 12 T20Is for England and took 42, 30, and 14 wickets, respectively.

Also read: IND vs NZ: “I Have Squeezed A Lot Out Of Him, There Is Not Much Left” – Hardik Pandya Says He Learnt A Lot From MS Dhoni When Both Played Together

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