Good news for Ben Stokes' England as Jofra Archer expected to return for second Test vs India, selector gives crucial update

On June 5, England Cricket Board (ECB) announced their 14-man squad for the first Test of the five-Test series against India. Jofra Archer was not a part of the squad as he is still nursing a thumb injury sustained during his Rajasthan Royals' (RR) stint in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.

Archer has been struggling for injuries. He hasn't played a Test since England's tour of India in 2021. That was the year he made his last first-class appearance as well. From elbow injury to stress fracture in back, Archer has been back and forth on the road to recovery.

He was expected to return to red-ball cricket on June 6 with England Lions taking on India in the second unofficial Test but the thumb injury prevented him from doing that. However, Archer is expected to return for the second Test of the series against England. But first, he has to prove himself in the second XI match for Sussex against Durham while India and England lock horns at Headingley, Leeds.

"Jof's also trucking along really well actually. The plan is for him to play a few second-team games, loading up in the second team for Sussex. And then the idea for him is to play for Sussex against Durham during the first Test [June 22-25]. Then if all things go well, fingers crossed, he should be available for the second Test," England's national selector Luke Wright said as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

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Not just the India Test series, England will be in dire need of Archer's services for the Ashes 2025-26 on Australia soil. Wright expects him to be available for the second Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham starting July 2.

"Like anything with all these bowlers, he's got to keep ticking things off everyday with no setbacks. But, if all goes well and he gets through that Durham game, then he's available potentially for selection for that second Test," Wright added.

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So far, Archer has played 13 Tests and claimed 42 wickets at an average of 31.04, including three five-wicket hauls.

England's squad for 1st Test vs India -

Ben Stokes (c), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes