Jofra Archer, England’s top bowler, has made his long-awaited return to first-class cricket with Sussex. After four years, Archer made an impressive comeback against Durham, raising hopes of a recall for the second Test against India, which begins on July 2 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
The 30-year-old, who last played a Test against India in February 2021, has been sidelined due to a number of injuries, including a right elbow and, more recently, a thumb. However, he has appeared in shorter formats, including the 2025 IPL season with the Rajasthan Royals.
Archer scored 31 in the County Championship encounter at Chester-le-Street. His effort, which featured three fours and a six, helped him form a 57-run ninth-wicket partnership with James Coles, who went on to smash an unbeaten 117. Initially excluded from Sussex’s official squad announcement, Archer was later confirmed by England selector Luke Wright, who explained the exclusion as an administrative error.
Check the video of Jofra Archer’s red-ball comeback here
Fantastic to see Jofra Archer back with a red ball in hand pic.twitter.com/1TTjSmrikt
— Rothesay County Championship (@CountyChamp) June 23, 2025
Ben Stokes opens up on Archer’s return
Meanwhile, England captain Ben Stokes, speaking ahead of the first Test at Headingley, confirmed Archer’s desire to don the whites again. Stokes also revealed that Archer had personally reached out before the one-off Test against Zimbabwe
“He’s been absolutely desperate to put the white shirt back on. Out of the blue, he’d sometimes text me saying, ‘Zim?’ – as in, ‘Am I in for Zimbabwe?’ I had to tell him, ‘Let’s just hold it there. I know you’re feeling good, but we don’t want to rush it,” Stokes had said in the pre-match press conference for the Headingley Test.
Archer’s potential return couldn’t come at a better time. England’s pace battery looked underwhelming in the first Test, where India hammered a 471-run first-innings total. With Mark Wood still recovering from knee surgery, England are short of an experienced pacer in their bowling line-up. The Barbados-born has featured in 13 matches so far and picked 42 wickets at an economy of 2.99.
