LONDON: England fast bowler Jofra Archer has acknowledged the possibility of struggling with further injury setbacks.
Archer, who secured a two-year central contract with England in October, last participated in a Test match in February 2021. Subsequently, his career has been marred by injuries, with the 29-year-old Sussex paceman missing the entirety of last year’s home season due to a stress fracture in his right elbow.
Despite his setbacks, Archer, famed for his pivotal role in England’s 2019 World Cup victory, is striving for a comeback, eyeing participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup in the United States and the Caribbean.
However, he acknowledges the toll that another setback could take on him both mentally and physically. “It’s been a considerable period, and frankly, I’m uncertain if I possess the resilience for another disrupted year”.
“That’s the reality; I’m unsure if I can endure another one,” Archer disclosed in the 4Cast’s Athlete’s Voice podcast. Reflecting on his limited cricketing activity over the past year, he remarked, “I’ve been out of action for a full 12 months.
Last year, I only played from January to May. The year before that, I only managed a game or two for Sussex, so I’ve essentially had a year of inactivity.” Earlier this month, England cricket chief Rob Key cautiously ruled out Archer’s return to Test cricket until at least 2025 but remained optimistic about his prospects for the T20 World Cup.
