Jofra Archer could make his comeback in early 2023

Jofra Archer (PC: Twitter)

England speedster Jofra Archer could make a possible comeback in the early months of the next year after spending almost two years out of action with an injury.

Archer is on the road to recovery after having played his last game for England in March 2021, after which he was first sidelined with a serious elbow problem.

The 27-year-old bowler has not played competitively since last July, was absent for the T20 World Cup, and missed the subsequent Ashes tour of Australia with an elbow injury.

Archer, who has appeared in 13 Tests, 17 ODIs, and 12 T20Is for England, had a second elbow operation in December to address a stress fracture. But he hasn't been able to recover to full fitness and the late recovery concerns have raised question marks over his future, especially when the paceman was hoping to make his comeback from a long-term elbow injury for Sussex in the T20 Blast earlier this year.

However, according to the latest developments, England are "cautiously optimistic" that the Barbados-born bowler could be available for the series against South Africa early next year. England are set to play three ODIs against the Proteas in January 2023 to make up for the tour that was abandoned in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns, although the specific dates are yet to be confirmed.

Archer has returned to bowling with Sussex and it is understood he will join up with England's Test squad for a training camp in the UAE in November, which begins on November 18 as part of their preparation for the upcoming three-Test series against Pakistan in December.