Jofra Archer backed to lead England to Ashes glory ahead of return

Jofra Archer will take his first steps back from long-term injury in Bloemfontein when England tackle South Africa in a one-day series next month. And Ashes legend Steve Harmison believes it could be the start of a journey that sees him lead England to the top of the world in all three formats.

Archer was named in a 14-man squad for the three match 50-overs tour starting at the end of January. It will be his first action since March 2021 and the culmination of a lot of hard work to recover from elbow surgery and a stress fracture in his back.

Harmison, now a pundit with talkSPORT who are the rights holders for the series, believes if all goes well against the Proteas, it could the be the start of a phenomenal comeback year. He said: “The biggest thing for England is to get him through South Africa and you have to try to not look too much further ahead than that.

“If you get Jofra Archer back for the first Test at the Ashes in June that is an unbelievable achievement between now and testament to his desire to get back. But by the end of the series England could get to August be 50 overs World Champions, 20 over World Champions and hold the Ashes and what a place that would be.”

Excessive workload placed on Archer’s shoulders has been a risk-reward dilemma for England ever since he first burst on to the scene three years ago. And while it has helped deliver plenty of wins including most memorably the 50-overs World Cup in 2019, it has left the Barbados-born quick dealing with a host of injuries.

Archer underwent surgery on his right elbow injury in May 2021 and again in the December of the same year and having finally looked close to a return ahead of this summer was ruled out until now with a stress fracture in his back. Archer’s schedule will be carefully managed with South Africa set to be followed by a return to the Indian Premier League with the Mumbai Indians in March.

England are also set to play in Bangladesh in a white ball tour in March followed and a Test against Ireland in June before the Ashes later that month. Archer will then be a key plank of their attempt to retain the 50-overs World Cup crown that he helped win at Lord’s in 2019. 

“Everybody wants him – they want him to play 20 and 50 overs cricket and Test cricket, IPL cricket – and bowling fast is not something that the body does naturally or easily,” said Harmison. “Fingers crossed his body holds up.”

England’s squad featured a white ball recall for Ben Duckett for the first time since 2016, a first call up to the 50 overs squad for Harry Brook and the potential return after injury for Reece Topley. 

England squad to face South Africa: Buttler (capt), Moeen, Archer, Brooks, S Curran, Duckett, Malan, Rashid, Roy, Salt, Stone, Topley, Willey, Woakes.

1st ODI Bloemfontein, Jan 27; 2nd ODI Bloemfontein Jan 29; 3rd ODI Kimberley, Feb 1