After a protracted injury layoff, Jofra Archer has announced that he plans to return to T20 cricket, with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2022 as a goal.
Due to an elbow injury, Archer was forced to miss the most recent T20 World Cup, and England, without the spearhead of their attack, were beaten by New Zealand in the final four.
However, Archer has announced that he will make a comeback for his county side Sussex in England’s T20 Blast later this month, and the world’s second-ranked T20I Men’s squad may have their leading quick bowler back for the next T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.
In the previous year, the 27-year-old has had two surgeries on an elbow issue that has kept him out of all international and franchise cricket. He also claims that he is well on his way to recovery.
“My right elbow felt no different after my first procedure in May,” Archer wrote in his Daily Mail column.
“Obviously, I wouldn’t know whether it was successful until I started bowling, but I can say that things felt different almost immediately after my second one in December. The way things are now, nearly five months later, is a relief.
“Yes, there have been two operations, but my rehab comeback could not have been written any better.
“Now all I need is some game experience to be able to trust the elbow. I haven’t trusted it to sustain me for a long time, so it’ll take some effort to do so and bowl at full tilt.
“That’s the barrier I’m attempting to overcome right now: getting out of my comfort zone and back to full strength; having the confidence to play without thinking about my injuries.
“What I can say is that I’ve been putting in a lot of work and bowling some extremely fast balls, so I’m not far away.”
Despite his success in T20 franchise cricket and in England’s ODI team, Archer has only played 12 times in T20Is.
In reality, in his brief long-form career, the England spinner has played one more Test, claiming 42 wickets in 24 Test innings with the red ball.
However, new England Test captain Ben Stokes will be unable to recall Archer anytime soon, as the player is focused on regaining his fitness before taking on the responsibility of playing in all formats.
ICC T20 WORLDCUP 2022 SCHEDULE
“I still want to play everything,” Archer said, “but my first priority is the Blast, and if I don’t play that well, I won’t be able to play Test cricket.”
“I’m not going to set any lofty goals just yet. I’m aware that the T20 World Cup is coming up in autumn, but all I want to do is get out there and run.”
