Jofra Archer nears Test return with his performance against Durham

Jofra Archer, the English fast bowler, has made an impressive comeback to County cricket after being sidelined by injuries for a significant period. The 30-year-old has not played in Test cricket for the last four years, with his last appearance coming against India in 2021. After a strong performance against Durham in the County Championship, Archer will be hoping for a call-up to the England Test side ahead of the second fixture.

Although Archer has continued to feature in shorter formats of the game, playing for franchises and the national team, he has struggled with right elbow and thumb injuries. He recently played for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2025. In the ongoing County Championship game at Chester-le-Street, Archer contributed with both bat and ball. Scoring a quickfire 31, including three fours and a six, he helped his side post a competitive total of 361 runs, rescuing them from the brink of being bowled out for under 300.

With the ball, he bowled four overs, including two maidens. With the team still bowling, the England selectors will be hopeful of getting Archer back in action soon, particularly for the upcoming Test series against India.

What has Ben Stokes previously commented on Jofra Archer's return to the Test fold? 

Ahead of the Headingley game against India, Ben Stokes commented that Jofra Archer was eager to return to Test cricket. The English captain also revealed that he had personally reached out to Archer to check if he was available for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe. While Archer had shown a strong desire to be part of the Test setup, Stokes had advised him to manage his excitement and wait for the right moment. He stated in the press conference:

He's been absolutely desperate to put the white shirt back on. Out of the blue, he'd sometimes text me saying, 'Zim?' - as in, 'Am I in for Zimbabwe?' I had to tell him, 'Let's just hold it there. I know you're feeling good, but we don't want to rush it,