Birmingham, June 28, 2025 — England pace bowler Jofra Archer is on the verge of a long-awaited return to Test cricket, having been named in the squad for the second Test against India at Edgbaston starting Wednesday.
Should he feature in the playing XI, it will mark his first red-ball appearance since 2021, following a string of injury setbacks that have kept him sidelined for nearly four years.
Archer’s inclusion comes as England look to consolidate their 1-0 lead in the five-Test series after a dramatic opening victory at Headingley. The 30-year-old speedster, who made a sensational impact on his Test debut during the 2019 Ashes, has battled recurring elbow and back injuries that derailed what once seemed a meteoric rise.
Rob Key, managing director of England men’s cricket, praised Archer’s return and highlighted the potential he has to build a lasting legacy in the game’s most demanding format.
“He’s got high skill, accuracy, pace, all of those things,” Key said. “He’s a pure talent, one of the best bowlers certainly I’ve seen play for England. Test cricket’s the one where you make your name—that’s where you have a legacy. That’s what Jofra will have the chance to do now, hopefully for the next few years.”
Archer’s pace, combined with his ability to generate bounce and movement, offers a potent addition to an already dynamic England attack. In his 13-Test career so far, he has claimed 42 wickets at an average of 31.04, including a memorable six-wicket haul against Australia at Headingley in 2019.
His selection is the only change from the squad that triumphed at Headingley, where England’s pace battery—Chris Woakes, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse, and captain Ben Stokes—delivered a hard-fought win over the visitors.
With Archer’s inclusion, England face a welcome selection dilemma. While the final XI is yet to be confirmed, the management may look to rotate the attack to manage workloads, particularly with three more Tests to follow in a busy summer that leads into the Ashes in Australia later this year.
Meanwhile, fellow fast bowlers Gus Atkinson and Mark Wood remain in rehabilitation but are expected to feature later in the series. Their recovery will be closely monitored as England aim to fine-tune their bowling resources ahead of the Ashes.
For Archer, this potential comeback is about more than just regaining rhythm—it’s a chance to re-establish himself as a cornerstone of England’s red-ball ambitions. With Key and the team management expressing full confidence in his abilities, the stage is set for the Barbadian-born pacer to begin writing the next chapter of his Test journey.
Cricket fans will watch closely on Wednesday to see if Archer takes the field once more, eager to witness whether his long road back from injury can culminate in a return to the elite level where his brilliance once shone brightest.