There are few more alluring fast bowlers than Jofra Archer. Think back to that breakthrough summer four years ago, Archer tearing through the World Cup and Ashes campaigns like they were crepe paper, hitting stumps, helmets and outside edges at high velocity and sparking talk of a generational talent.
England’s supporters have certainly taken Archer to their hearts since that switch from his native Barbados, greeting every appearance with a reworked version of the Depeche Mode classic Just Can’t Get Enough. In full flight, cruising towards the crease before unwinding from tight into the stumps, that hyperextensive right elbow adding an extra crack of the whip, he causes the world’s best players problems.
The problem in recent times, however, has been that Archer himself cannot get enough, or at least catch a break. Since early 2020, when that elbow first started to cause him pain and a rarely seen stress fracture in the joint was diagnosed, England’s men have played 139 internationals across all formats, with Archer featuring in only 27 of them.
As such, it wasn’t jaw-dropping on Tuesday when news emerged from India that Archer is to end his time with Mumbai Indians early. He will now take a fortnight’s rest back home and then resume rehab on the issue that has undergone five procedures in the past two years, forced long, cruel absences and is still causing discomfort.
Sussex, Archer’s county, were told at the start of the season that they would not see him before the Test summer because of his Indian Premier League commitments. But since then there has been a clandestine trip to Belgium to see his elbow specialist, Roger van Riet, and only five appearances out of a possible 10. The speed gun, by which Archer is often reductively judged, has still seen 90mph breached. But he has not looked right.
The arrival of Chris Jordan at Mumbai last week, and his subsequent parachuting into their squad as Archer’s replacement, suggests this return home was not entirely unforeseen and England are trying to remain hopeful. As it stands, they say no further surgery is planned and, while Archer could theoretically have continued to bowl four-over bursts in the IPL, this recall to the mothership was the sensible course of action.
This outlook also reflects the sensitive nature of Archer’s struggle. It is clearly a distressing time for the player, a recent flavour of which came when news of his trip to Belgium was reported and he reacted angrily on Twitter. A regular user of social media, he has also found a section of the Mumbai support unforgiving in his replies, this the second year of a £800,000 deal after missing the entire 2022 season.
Back in England there is only one series on people’s lips, however, and concerns over his involvement in the Ashes are inevitable. The drums have started to beat before the first Test at Edgbaston on 16 June and Archer’s fitness is not the only talking point, with Ben Stokes having missed a chunk of the IPL because of a toe problem – his left knee also a constant worry – and Olly Stone awaiting scan results for a hamstring injury.
Stokes is at least said to be ready to resume for Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday but Stone’s need for crutches over the weekend means a layoff is certain here. As such, with Archer sidelined, it leaves Mark Wood as currently the last fit member of the three outright quicks name-checked last week by Rob Key, the England and Wales Cricket Board’s director of men’s cricket. Wood has also been at the IPL – his spot lost because of illness and he will also return early due to the birth of his second child.
There is a case to say that outright pace need not be pivotal, of course, with Australia’s barren run of 22 years without an away Ashes series win owing much to their shortcomings playing fast-medium swing and nip. But given Archer’s impact during the drawn series in 2019 – 22 wickets at 20 apiece and that fearsome encounter with Steve Smith at Lord’s – they will also welcome not having to negotiate it.
For us onlookers it remains a case of fingers crossed that, while there are a little over five weeks until the first Ashes Test, and the series is done by 31 July, Archer can somehow make a late entrance. When it comes to best wishes, he just can’t get enough.
