Jofra Archer is bidding to prove he is ready to replace James Anderson in the Ashes after England confirmed they would be without their greatest fast bowler for the Second Test at Lord’s.
Archer is in action Sussex 2nd XI against Gloucestershire today as he tries to show he has recovered from the side problem that ruled him out of the First Test.
England are 1-0 down in the series after being thrashed by Australia at Edgbaston yesterday. Anderson had not played for four weeks due to a calf tear and, having bowled just four overs, he left the field on day one with another injury in the same area.
He did not bowl again, but did bat twice in the match.
An ECB spokesman said: “He will commence a rehabilitation programme working with the England and Lancashire medical teams and will be reassessed on an ongoing basis regarding his availability for the rest of the series.”
Captain Joe Root, shorn of a bowler with 16 years’ Test experience and 575 wickets, said “he passed every medical testing, he was fit to play, but it’s one of those freak scenarios”.
A second scan on his calf yesterday ruled him out of Lord’s and he is overwhelmingly likely to miss the Third Test at Headingley eight days later, too.
If he is to play the fourth match at Old Trafford starting September 4, he will need some cricket beforehand, but the schedule does not help England.
Lancashire’s Championship match at Colwyn Bay on August 18 will likely come too soon, so too a Second XI friendly two days later. It is possible he could be drafted in by Derbyshire for their tour match against Australia starting August 29. Archer (left) has not played a first-class game since September, and has played just two T20s since the World Cup Final on July 14. He battled through that tournament with a side injury, but there is some confidence that he is over it now.
England have spoken at length about wanting the sort of pace Archer can provide in their Test attack, and will hope that his presence can help them solve their significant Steve Smith issue. The Australian scored centuries in both innings in Birmingham. Ten of his 25 Test tons have come against England.
Meanwhile, Sam Curran, another contender for Lord’s, is scheduled to feature in two Blast fixtures for Surrey this week.
