Jofra Archer has returned early from the Indian Premier League after undergoing minor elbow surgery, as he manages his rehabilitation ahead of an Ashes series and World Cup. Here, The Cricketer tracks three tough years for the seamer...
Here, The Cricketer tracks Archer's career since his explosive debut season in international cricket in 2019...
January 3, 2020: Archer is ruled out of the second Test against South Africa as his elbow problem flares up for the first time.
The seamer complained of pain during the first Test at Centurion and underwent a scan, which did not provide enough information for England's medical team to make a call.
"He is not fit to play, suffering with a right elbow injury. He will not be at the ground today and will have a second scan to determine the extent of the injury," a statement says.
January 29, 2020: After missing three of England's four Tests in South Africa, Archer flies home to nurse his elbow injury and misses the T20 series.
February 6, 2020: Archer's elbow issue is a stress fracture which will mean three months of rehab. He has to withdraw from Rajasthan Royals' squad for the 2020 Indian Premier League.
February 10, 2020: England head coach Chris Silverwood concedes Archer may need to be used in short bursts in Test cricket to preserve his career.
"Things like [bowling 40 overs] we have to look at," Silverwood said. "But sometimes, when needs must, you've got to do it. We managed Mark Wood through both the Test matches he’s played here and he's bowled in short sharp spells. Would we look to do that now with Jof? Yes, we probably would."
June 9, 2020: Archer returns to light training.
June 23, 2020: The bowler uses his Daily Mail column to give an update on his progress.
“So far everything feels like clockwork," he wrote. "Crunch in, crunch out, my body feels fresh, and there are no issues with my right elbow whatsoever, touch wood. When I run into bowl, I don’t think about it, just about bowling the ball as I always have done."
Jofra Archer has endured a difficult three years [Getty Images]
July 4, 2020: Archer is named in England's squad for the first Test against West Indies behind closed doors at the Ageas Bowl.
July 8, 2020: Archer plays in the first Test, taking 3 for 45 in the second innings. He is later excluded from the second Test for breacing bio-security protocols but returns to play through the rest of the summer for England.
March 21, 2021: It is announced that Archer will miss England's ODI matches against India, having played in discomfort during the T20I leg of the tour.
The ECB release a statement saying they will "develop a treatment plan and a return-to-play schedule in due course".
March 29, 2021: After a freak injury cleaning a fish tank, which it emerges took place in January, Archer goes under the knife to extract glass from a finger.
"It didn't stop him playing but, given he came home for an injection and treatment on his elbow, he went to a specialist - I think it was still a bit stiff - and they've operated," England men's managing director of cricket Ashley Giles says.
April 11, 2021: Archer is cleared to return to training following the minor surgery but no timeframe is put on his return to competitive action.
April 23, 2021: Rajasthan Royals and the ECB confirm their fast bowler will not take any part in the Indian Premier League campaign.
May 5, 2021: In a low-key return to action, Archer bowls 11 wicketless overs for Sussex 2nd XI against Surrey.
May 15, 2021: Archer is too sore to bowl for Sussex on day three of their County Championship match against Kent.
May 18, 2021: The ECB advise Archer to undergo surgery on his persistent right elbow injury. At the time, the expecation was that it would see him out of action for 10 weeks.
Archer has suffered from various injuries and fitness concerns [Getty Images]
May 20, 2021: Archer chooses to have the operation on his elbow.
"At the moment, he has a bit of an impingement in his elbow," England's bowling coach, Jon Lewis, tells the Guardian. "A lot of fast bowlers get it in their ankle, so it's comparable but a different part of the body. Put a lot of pressure and flexion through any joint, it will take a bashing. But bowlers come through ankle impingements. I don't foresee it being a long term major issue.
"From what I understand, either short-term or long term, his elbow will recover. I would expect him to play a lot more international cricket for England. This is just a small blip on his journey."
May 27, 2021: Archer writes in his Daily Mail column: "If I don't get this right, I won't play any cricket. Period.
"I am not going to do myself any good by coming back before I'm fully fit, so I will take my time and do what is best for me and my life."
August 24, 2021: Archer says he is targeting the West Indies tours as a potential comeback.
December 8, 2021: Archer tells Channel7 he feels as though he is reaching the end of his injury journey.
"The results [of the latest scan] came back yesterday and it was quite promising, actually - everything is moving forward nicely," he said.
December 11, 2021: Another surgery.
December 21, 2021: Archer is ruled out of the West Indies tours and serious concerns are raised about his future as an all-formats player.
March 2022: Archer links up with the England squad on their Test tour of the Caribbean and is seen bowling tentatively in the nets in Bridgetown.
April 2022: The seamer is expected to feature in white-ball cricket at various levels over the course of the summer - for Sussex, Southern Brave and England.
May 2022: Archer joins up with Sussex for white-ball training and is observed in the nets striking balls at full pelt in the second week of the month. He attends a headshot session for the Sharks' T20 Blast squad, and is among the options to be vice-captain of the side during the competition.
May 19, 2022: An ECB press release states that Archer has suffered a stress fracture in his back and will miss the entire summer. No timeframe is put on his recovery.
December 22, 2022: Following six months of treatment, Archer is named in an England squad as part of an ODI group for a three-match series in South Africa the following month.
January 13, 2023: He's back! Archer makes a long-awaited return to competitive cricket with three wickets for MI Cape Town in the SA20.
January 27, 2023: In an England shirt for the first time since 2021, Archer takes 1 for 81 in 10 overs in Bloemfontein.
March 2023: More England appearances, this time in a white-ball tour of Bangladesh. And there is a sense that he is hitting his stride.
March 2023: The seamer says he is hopeful of playing in the Ashes, even if it is just one game. "If I can play one game this summer, I'll be happy," he said. "If I play more than one, that's just a bonus," he says. "Coming back and playing cricket for England again means I have already done what I wanted to do.
April 2023: Archer plays in Mumbai Indians' first game of the IPL but then disappears for three weeks. It later emerges, via a report in the Telegraph, that he has undergone elbow surgery in Belgium. Archer reacts badly to the news breaking, tweeting: "Putting out an article without knowing the facts and without my consent is crazy. Wheever the reporter is shame on you, an already worrying and troubling time for a player and you exploit it for your personal gain, it's people like you that are the problem."
May 9, 2023: The ECB confirm that Archer is to return early from the Indian Premier League, having played five games, to work on his rehab in England. His Ashes participation is in danger.
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