Worry For England As Jofra Archer's Elbow Injury Resurfaces Before New Zealand Tests

Major concerns loom for the England team ahead of the New Zealand Test series as Jofra Archer’s long-term elbow injury isn’t completed healed yet.

The fast bowler missed the ODI series versus India and the IPL 2021 owing to a hand injury, for which he had recently undergone treatment and elbow issues.

Jofra Archer made his return last week in a Second Eleven Championship game for Sussex 2nd XI and was deemed fit for this week’s County Championship match against Kent.

While the speedster started on a positive note with two wickets in his opening spell in the first innings, he delivered only 5 overs in the second innings and spent most of the time fielding, despite his team needing him to bowl overs as Zak Crawley and Jack Leaning piled up runs.

Jofra Archer’s elbow goes sore again

Sussex coach Ian Salisbury later revealed that Jofra Archer had a sore elbow, hence couldn’t bowl more than 5 overs. Salisbury said the ECB should be consulted for allowing the seamer to feature in the game even when he was not completely fit.

“I think there was some confusion about the state of Jofra’s elbow. (Skipper) Ben (Brown) thought he was going to bowl but his elbow was sore and there was confusion over that and he couldn’t bowl. If you saw today he’s not going to bowl tomorrow. You’ll have to ask the ECB,” Salisbury said.

“Any time that Jofra can’t bowl you’re going to be frustrated as a leader, or as a team. But it happens. In sport people get injured. That’s life. That’s sport. He’s still willing to be out there because he wants Sussex to win. They (the ECB) had to give him permission to play this game. He’s not our player so they had to give permission,” he added.

The England squad for the 2-Test series versus Kane Williamson’s side that begins on June 2nd would be announced in the coming days.

Apart from Jofra Archer’s fitness uncertainties, Joe Root and head coach Chris Silverwood, who will now make the selections after the departure of Ed Smith, will also miss the services of all-rounder Ben Stokes and opener Dom Sibley, who both are recovering from injuries.

Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, and Moeen Ali are also likely to be unavailable for the first Test, at least, as they are in quarantine after returning from India following the IPL’s suspension.

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