When Jofra Archer makes his first international appearance on Australian soil later this week, it will be the culmination of a very careful two-year strategy.
‘The whole plan with Jofra is he’s going to play white-ball cricket for this summer and going into the winter,’ England managing director Rob Key revealed, on the eve of the 2024 season.
‘Then, hopefully next summer, when we play India and then on to the Ashes, we get him back for Test cricket. It’s a slow process to get him back for all forms.’
Slow process indeed, but one that appears to have been timed precisely, with Archer looking as good at the age of 30 as at any time in his England career, and ready to front a bid to win a first away Ashes in 15 years.
However, talk to those among English cricket’s hierarchy and being ready for November 21 really wasn’t that prescriptive.
Such was the ECB’s determination to get his comeback from multiple stress fractures in his elbow plus a stress fracture in his back right, they would have followed whatever course Steve Griffin – their highly regarded head of physiotherapy and rehabilitation – recommended.
Jofra Archer, seen here during England’s warm-up match in Perth this week, is ready to play his first international in Australia after years of careful planning by the ECB
Now aged 30, Archer looks as good as at any time in his England career despite the stress fractures in his elbow and back
Griffin’s greatest attribute in working with England’s leading fast bowlers has been treating them as individuals rather than a group, designing programmes for both strength and conditioning and bowling workloads that differ from player to player.
And Archer is actually part of a wider success story for the ECB, in getting their entire fast bowling group fit at the most high-profile juncture in the calendar. They have confidence in his methods. Mark Wood, who refers to his rehab exercises as ‘the Griff sessions’, is also match-ready right on cue, bowling at full tilt in the nets here, leg heavily-strapped, on Tuesday, following nine months out with a left knee injury.
Working alongside Neil Killeen, the ECB’s lead bowling coach, Griffin’s input mapped out a bespoke itinerary for Archer that saw him focus on Twenty20 cricket initially, a period including the World Cup, and then stepping up to one-day internationals, following an steady workload increase, for the September 2024 series against Australia.
Confidence increasing, due to getting safely through 10 ODIs in five months, Archer then got through 18 overs for Sussex against Durham in the County Championship clash at Chester-le-Street in midsummer – his first first-class appearance in more than four years.
Following a 12-month spell in which he slowly increased the physical threshold, Archer then featured in consecutive Tests against India, claiming nine wickets, before being withdrawn for the Oval Test finale amid fears of a fatigue-triggered injury occurring.
High levels of trust have helped get him into the physical shape of his life. One of the England management reckons that with Archer, ‘If you give him something, you get lots more back’.
As was the case when the Barbados-born fast bowler was allowed to return ‘home’ in October, missing the opening one-day international in New Zealand as a result.
Key first discussed the possibility of Archer having a stint in the Caribbean at a pre-selection meeting with Luke Wright, on the evening that England made a historic 304 for two in a T20 win over South Africa in September.
Archer is part of a wider success story for the ECB. Mark Wood (right) is also match-ready right on cue following nine months out with a knee injury
The fast bowler on his first first-class appearance in more than four years – with Sussex at Durham’s Chester-le-Street back in June
Archer made a triumphant return to the Test team against India at Lord’s in July, claiming nine wickets including this dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal
They recognise the dedication of a man whose 28 months on the sidelines across two spells between 2021-23 could easily have led to retirement from first-class cricket. When left to his own devices, Archer is as diligent with his fitness as any of England’s 30 centrally-contracted cricketers.
They also knew that he would be working with Chris Jordan in the nets, alternating normal net sessions with ‘really intense’ ones. Key admires Jordan as a young coach, identifying him along with Chris Woakes, who is able to communicate to bowlers in a similar way to Tim Southee, the New Zealand consultant they have been using here. Jordan is not only one of Archer’s closest friends. He is his bowling confidant too.
Now 30, Archer finally looks ready to emulate the spell that he enjoyed in 2019, when he nervelessly closed out the World Cup final super over and terrorised Steve Smith and the Australians at Lord’s.
He has been remarkably relaxed since arriving in Hamilton, New Zealand, for the ODIs, where he bowled ferociously and skilfully, returning combined figures of three for 76 from 20 overs.
‘It was a hell of a challenge (facing him),’ said New Zealand batsman Rachin Ravindra. ‘You know if you can get through his spell, you can get through most spells in the world. And as a cricket fan, I’m excited to see how he goes in Oz.’
As for his physique? Well, after finishing in the nets on Tuesday, he was strolling round the Perth Stadium outfield, top off. If you had a torso like his, you would too.
Analysis of his display in the warm-up match against England Lions at Lilac Hill also made interesting reading. He hovered at speeds just under 90mph with the new ball, but finished the opening day with a spell that was quicker.
Then, in the second innings, he went down to three-quarter pace, getting the overs in ahead of the Test series rather than busting himself on a surface that could not have been more of a contrast to the lively nets this week.
Archer finally looks ready to emulate the spell that he enjoyed in 2019, when he nervelessly closed out the World Cup final super over
The Barbados-born bowler was allowed to return ‘home’ in October, missing the opening one-day international in New Zealand as a result, but impressed on his return to the side
He bowled ferociously and skilfully against the Black Caps, returning combined figures of three for 76 from 20 overs
Archer, pictured in Perth yesterday, has appeared remarkably relaxed ahead of England’s Ashes showdown Down Under
Some within the England camp believe Archer doesn’t get enough credit for his all-round skills: moving up and down the gears, reading conditions.
His effortless, easy pace from an amble to the crease also makes him a different kind of 90mph operator to Wood, a bowler who is rarely less than full throttle. And his natural angle makes him a nightmare for left-handers.
England have not set a certain number of Tests for him to play this Ashes, nor identified preferred venues or combinations. Instead, they will reassess match to match.
With an Indian Premier League season being sandwiched by a Twenty20 World Cup and the start of the England home summer in 2026, the ECB know a pinch point is coming in regards to Archer’s availability. But for now they are just thankful one of their match winners is in place for the challenge of felling Australia on home soil.
