1 month ago
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Jofra Archer will make his long-awaited red-ball return on Sunday – not that his county wanted anyone to know.
Sussex on Saturday named a 12-man squad for their County Championship match in Durham, with Archer mysteriously missing from the list.
Given England selector Luke Wright had said earlier this month that the pace bowler was set to make his comeback from injury at Chester-le-Street, there were fears he had broken down again.
However, England chiefs quickly clarified that the squad Sussex published on their website was wrong – and that Archer will indeed don whites for the first time in four years today.
Mail Sport understands Sussex had bizarrely left the 2019 World Cup winner off their list because they were trying to avoid extra media attention on his return.
The 30-year-old has not played any first-class cricket since Sussex's County Championship clash with Kent in May 2021, a match he did not finish after injuring his right elbow.
England fans were left fearing that Jofra Archer was injured again after a bizarre Sussex call
England selector Luke Wright (left) said earlier this month that Archer was set to make his comeback from injury this week
He was not named in Sussex's squad - but Mail Sport understands it was to avoid media attention
Archer's last Test came in India earlier that year, while he has not featured in a home England Test since 2020.
The Barbados-born star most recently played competitive cricket for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL in May, but his tournament was cut short after he suffered a thumb injury.
If Archer comes through this County Championship match unscathed, he could be available for England's second Test against India at Edgbaston, starting on July 2.
England are desperate to have Archer back fit ahead of this winter's Ashes, especially with the limitations of their current pace attack being exposed in India's first innings of the series at Headingley.
