Unlucky Archer set to miss tour of the Caribbean

LONDON, (CMC):

FRESH SURGERY on a troublesome right elbow has forced Barbados-born fast bowler Jofra Archer out of England’s tour of the West Indies in March, as fears grow over whether he will ever play Test cricket again.

The sidelined 26-year-old quick has not played international cricket since England’s tour of India in March and a comeback with his county side Sussex was called off when the return of the stress fracture he first sustained in early 2020 forced him back onto the operating table.

He had a second elbow operation 11 days ago, officials have now revealed.

No return date for Archer, also a leading cricketer in the Twenty20 global franchise circuit, has been given other than for officials to say he would be absent for the entire winter. The three-Test series against West Indies starts on March 8 in Antigua.

“The England and Wales Cricket Board can confirm that fast bowler Jofra Archer underwent a second operation on his injured right elbow on Saturday, December 11 in London,” a statement from the governing body said.

“The procedure addressed the longstanding stress fracture of his right elbow. A return to cricket will be determined in time, but Jofra will not be available for any of England’s remaining winter series.”

Speaking to Fox Sports recently, however, Archer had expressed hopes of returning to the England squad.

A REALLY GOOD BREAK

“I do miss being in the team set-up and I hope that, when I’m fit and ready, I can get my spot back. But, other than that, honestly, [the break] has been really good,” said Archer, who played a handful of matches for West Indies Under-19s eight years ago but failed to make the cut for the 2014 ICC Youth World Cup.

“The coaches and players all check in with me. I know I’m not forgotten and I’ve just probably been dealt an unlucky hand and I’m dealing with it.”

Archer made his international debut for England in May 2019, and was part of the England squad that won the 2019 Cricket World Cup, defeating New Zealand in the final at Lord’s in London.

He then made a memorable Test debut later that summer, against Australia in the 2019 Ashes series.

He took the first of his 42 Test wickets, dismissing Australia’s opener Cameron Bancroft.

On the first day of the third Test, Archer took his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket, finishing with figures of six for 45 as Australia were dismissed for 179.

In April 2020, Archer was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year.