Jofra Archer is all set to return to international cricket with England on Friday as Jos Buttler’s side take on South Africa in the first of three ODIs.
The 27-year-old fast bowler has built up form and fitness playing for MI Cape Town in the SA20 series, having not played any international cricket since March 2021 due to injury.
Major elbow and back problems derailed Archer’s burgeoning career, but he’s back now.
Although Archer is only about 80 percent of the way to his recovery, by his estimation, all that’s missing is “fine tuning,” he said this week.
That’s music to the ears of captain Jos Buttler, who said on Thursday: “It’s fantastic to have Jofra back, fit and playing cricket again. He’s such an exciting guy to be back on the field. As England captain, to have that. to get back to your team and to your team is great.
“He’s just coming back to competitive cricket, this will be his first international for a long time, so there’s always going to be a level of expectation from Jofra because we all know what he’s capable of. But I I’m sure he’s just going to get better and better as he comes back and gets back to performing at such a high level.”
Buttler says Archer may need “some time” to fully get back to where he was before injuries started to take their toll.
But at the start of a World Cup year, with England preparing to defend their 50th title in India in October and November, Buttler said: “It’s just great to see him fit and back playing again.”
Ahead of the opener in Bloemfontein, England know that a 3-0 series win would see them leapfrog India at the top of the ODI rankings.
Former skipper Kevin Pietersen made an appearance at the team’s training session on Thursday, with England looking to get back to winning ways after failing to win any of their last three ODI series, losing to Australia and India and drawing in home against South Africa.
The Proteas continue to be led by Temba Bavuma and this series could be key to his future as the white-ball captain.
A shock defeat to the Netherlands knocked South Africa out of the T20 World Cup in November, with Bavuma signaling he will agree to whatever decision is made about the team’s future leadership.
Rob Walter will take over as coach of the ODI team from early February, with Shukri Conrad overseeing this series.
“If the team wants to go in a different direction with a different manager, I’m happy to leave,” Bavuma said. “Ultimately it depends on the coach. We have a new coach now and we could be a new coaching staff.
“The coach will have his vision and he will need someone to lead that vision. At the moment the coach has entrusted me with this role, so I will continue to do my best. I am lucky to have a supportive group of guys. For me, it’s business as usual right now.”
A milestone on the horizon for Roy
England opener Jason Roy is seven away from reaching 4000 runs in ODIs. If he reaches the milestone in his first match of this series, his 105th innings would make him the second fastest player to reach it for England, Joe Root getting there faster than anyone, in only 91 innings.
Parnell at the turn of the century
Wayne Parnell, set to claim a 70th ODI cap, will be hoping to complete 100 scalps in the 50-over international during this series. He is currently on 97 and could become the 13th player to reach 100 wickets in the format for the Proteas. He has taken three or more wickets in three ODIs against England, including career-best figures of 3-48, until November 2009.
