In a County Championship match at Chester-le-Street, Jofra Archer bowled 14 overs for Sussex against Durham, marking a respectable comeback to first-class cricket. Archer seemed clinical, took a wicket in his first first-class game since May 2021, and seems ready to return to Test cricket.
In February 2021, the Barbados native made his final Test appearance. Due to a stress fracture in his back and subsequent elbow surgery, he has been unable to play in most games, including the 2023 ODI World Cup and Ashes tours. Jofra Archer is hoping to make a return in the lengthier format despite his limited white-ball appearances, and his performance against Durham is being closely watched for a potential recall for the second Test match against India at Edgbaston beginning on July 2.
Jofra with the breakthrough! ⚡️ https://t.co/jcdpDAxU8y pic.twitter.com/WwBvCO1VH8
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) June 23, 2025
THERE IT ISSS!!! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/ydaDtRMmdG
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) June 23, 2025
I’m confident my body can withstand it: Jofra Archer
Jofra Archer bowled 14 overs in three sessions on Day 2 of the game, finishing with figures of 1 for 28. His first red-ball wicket since May 2021 came when he removed Durham opener Emilio Gay. Interestingly, he came on first change following Ollie Robinson and did not take the new ball.
Following lunch, Jofra Archer most spectacular spell began when he harassed Gay with a string of high-pitched deliveries. Following tea, he delivered another outstanding spell. He appeared at ease all day long and bowled six maidens in his 14 overs. At the end of the day, Archer told reporters he was hopeful about his comeback.
“Now that I know my body can withstand it, the game’s mental component [is] a bigger problem. I am going to fight it throughout the course of the next few days. Everything is fine. I’ll continue to push on. I thought it was time to leave when the scoreboard reached 50 overs, but by the conclusion of the day, things weren’t so bad. It was alright. The pitch had little effect. It feels a little more thrilling when the ball is moving. All I want is to finish the game. “I’m relieved to have completed a four-day cricket match,” he said on BBC Radio Sussex.
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