Jofra Archer uncertain for World Cup as the bowler picks up another injury

Jofra Archer has been ruled out for the entire English summer again with a stress fracture in his lower back.

England’s all-format fast bowler, Jofra Archer has been ruled out for the entire 2022 season with a stress fracture, making him the third seamer this week to be ruled out for the season with the same injury after Saqib Mahmood and Matthew Fisher. 

The Barbados born cricketer played his last international game for England in March 2021 against India. Since then he has not played for England in any format due to a stress fracture in his right elbow and went through two surgeries last year, only to force himself out of this summer again with another stress fracture, this time in his lower back. 

The 27-year-old Sussex seamer was recovering well, training in Barbados and England after missing out from the action for more than a year now. Although, he was not expected to make his return in the longest format for England that soon but was about to make his comeback in the white ball cricket, by playing for Sussex in the Vitality Blast starting next week. 

But now, as he suffers another brutal setback ahead of the summer, a return to T20 and one day cricket is a way off for the World Cup winning paceman.

“After being diagnosed with a stress fracture to the lower back, England and Sussex seamer Jofra Archer has been ruled out for the rest of the season. No timeframe has been set for his return. A management plan will be determined following further specialist opinion over the coming days.” statement in ECB media release.

With this injury, his chances of playing in the next T20 World Cup in Australia in October stand uncertain. He could not play in the last T20 World Cup in UAE and England missed the speedster’s presence massively throughout their campaign.

In addition, Jofra Archer was bought by Mumbai Indians for 8 crores in the mega auction prior to the 2022 season, to bowl beside Jasprit Bumrah, even though he was not going to make it for this season. 

Even if he is fit again there will be huge concerns over whether he will be able to come to the next IPL or not, will ECB allow the Barbadian to be part of the five-time champions, keeping in mind he is an integral part of England’s all-format setup and will require a lot of care following his body demands from here on.