England pacer Jofra Archer has suffered a recurrence of his stress fracture and has been ruled out for the remainder of the summer.
We know you'll be back stronger, Jof ❤️
💬 “We wish him the best of luck with his recovery. I’m sure we'll see Jofra back to his best and winning games for England."
🎙️ @RobKey612 pic.twitter.com/vL90D4TETA
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) May 16, 2023
Archer was forced to leave the ongoing IPL 2023 due to the injury, and scans later revealed the extent of the damage to his right elbow. He will now work with England and Sussex’s medical teams to manage the injury.
“It has been a frustrating and upsetting period for Jofra Archer,” ECB Managing Director for England Men’s Cricket, Rob Key, said. “He was making good progress until a recurrence of the elbow injury, which kept him out for an extended period previously. We wish him the best of luck with his recovery. I’m sure we will see Jofra back to his best and winning games for England, whatever the format. Hopefully, sooner rather than later.
On the other hand, Jonny Bairstow has recovered from his injury and will make his national comeback in the one-off Test against Ireland.
He's back… 💪🏏💥 pic.twitter.com/liNmVE9Kfc
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) May 16, 2023
Bairstow had suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle last August and is set to return to action for the first time in almost a year. He will replace Ben Foakes in the squad.
“It was a seriously tough decision to leave Ben Foakes out of the squad. He has been excellent for England in the last year, but Jonny Bairstow is one of the best players in the world whose performances last summer epitomised what we are about,” Key noted.
England’s Test squad also sees the return of Chris Woakes, who last played in March 2022, and Mark Wood, who took a break from the New Zealand tour. Ollie Pope has been named as Ben Stokes’s deputy with immediate effect.
✅ Fifteen players have made the cut…
Go well, lads 👊
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) May 16, 2023
England Men’s Test Squad: Ben Stokes (C), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
