Jofra Archer targeting return to Test cricket

The fast bowler has been plagued by injuries since the beginning of 2020 and hasn’t played a competitive game of cricket since July 2021, throwing his future as a multi-format international into doubt

Jofra Archer "absolutely" wants to continue playing Test cricket once he returns from his latest injury.

The England pacer has been plagued by injuries since the beginning of 2020, undergoing surgery on a troublesome elbow and having glass extracted from his finger following a freak accident while cleaning his fish tank.

He hasn’t played a competitive game of cricket since July 2021 and is not expected to return to the field until after England’s red-ball series against West Indies in March.

His injury setbacks have raised questions about his future as a multi-format international but the 26-year-old has insisted he is keen to add to his 13 Test caps rather than becoming a white-ball specialist.

^{Jofra Archer training with England in the Caribbean [Gareth Copley/Getty Images]}

"Yes, absolutely," Archer told the Daily Mail when asked if he sees Test cricket in his future. "Watching the Ashes, I felt like I had let everyone down a little bit, when you see fast bowlers taking 90 per cent of the wickets – but you don’t get injured on purpose.

"Of course, I want to be part of making this England team a success, but this past year has taught me that you can plan all you want, then something happens to change everything."

Discussing his string of injuries, Archer, who has been training with England in the Caribbean, did not put a date on his return to action but remained upbeat about his progress: "The hardest two pills I’ve had to swallow were not playing in the T20 World Cup and the Ashes but other than that everything has been so good since.

"I know I am not ready yet but having access to the doctors, the physio and removing the need to go back to England feels like a real plus.

"Right now, I can everything but it’s small steps. I have no idea when I will be playing matches [but] I’ve waited long enough, so it makes no sense rushing the last bit."

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Jofra Archer's injury timeline: Surgeries, missed matches and a fish tank