Jofra Archer will have to wait for his comeback in the whites, as the hosts have decided to field the same playing XI from the Headingley Test for the upcoming Edgbaston Test, deciding not to go with Archer, who hasn’t played an international red-ball game in the last four years.
Three days back, ECB’s managing director Rob Key said that Archer will be ready to hit the ground running, as and when his return to Tests comes, despite having bowled only 18 overs against Durham.
The inclusion of Archer was the sole change made by the selectors after England took a 1-0 lead in the series with a five-wicket win against India.
But the team management preferred to go with the winning combination at Edgbaston.
Earlier, Archer missed Monday’s training session at Edgbaston because of a family emergency but is expected to rejoin the team on Tuesday ahead of the second Test against India.
“Men’s fast bowler Jofra Archer will not be joining the England Test squad for today’s training session at Edgbaston, Monday 30 June, due to a family emergency. He is expected to rejoin the squad tomorrow, Tuesday,” the ECB said in a statement on Monday.
Archer, who has struggled with elbow-related injury to his bowling arm over the last multiple years, last played in a Test more than four years ago against India in Ahmedabad.
The second Test is scheduled to start at Edgbaston on Wednesday.
The second and third Tests, at Edgbaston and the Lord’s, will be played consecutively, and England might well look to rotate their attack.
With Archer not being named in the XI for Edgbaston, it might as well be that England field him for the prestigious Lord’s Test.
