Jofra Archer, the star figure in England’s bowling attack, has rejoined the team just in time for their pivotal match against South Africa, scheduled for October 21 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Jofra Archer has had many ailments building up to the ongoing ICC ODI World Cup, which initially kept him away from the game. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) made the choice not to include him in the initial 15-member roster, resulting in his absence from the team’s early matches.
However, with England suffering after losing two out of three matches in this high-profile event, they find themselves in a vulnerable scenario. To secure a berth in the semi-finals, the side captained by Jos Buttler must avoid any further failures. This is where the probable return of Archer becomes essential. It’s worth mentioning that he’s not part of the current 15-member roster, which means he won’t be able to participate in the forthcoming match against South Africa. However, there’s a ray of hope for a last-minute alteration, since Reece Topley experienced a knee injury in the last game.
What adds to the interest is that Archer’s last professional match was back in May, so his fitness is a subject of doubt. With 21 ODI matches under his belt, where he claimed 42 wickets, Archer played a vital role in England’s win at the 2019 ODI World Cup. Since his absence, England’s bowling, notably in the hands of Chris Woakes, who has been entrusted with the new ball, has been fairly leaky, raising concerns. Sam Curran’s form is also dubious, putting pressure on England to fix their fast-bowling unit swiftly. If Archer does make it to the 15-member roster, his inclusion might provide a much-needed boost to the pace attack, potentially boosting England in their bid to regain the coveted crown.
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Former West Indies cricketer Ian Bishop passionately criticized the ECB, expressing his strong disapproval of their actions, which he deemed as utter madness on the board’s part.
“There was a period when Jofra was over bowled. I sat there watching it, and I’m thinking: what madness is this that you are going to give this guy over after over? You almost – I’m sorry to use this statement; I don’t know how else to say it – you are killing the goose that lays the golden egg for you,” Bishop had said.
