England's head coach Brendon McCullum stated that Archer's selection for The Ashes next winter is not a guarantee even if he is physically ready. Archer has been sidelined due to injury since 2021 and the team has been easing him back into the international set-up through white-ball cricket. McCullum also mentioned the strong competition for spots in England's team and stated that Archer needs to be fully fit and prove himself before being considered for the Test squad.
Jofra Archer's Ashes Hopes: Injury Concerns and Stiff Competition Mar Selection
England's pacer Jofra Archer has been enduring a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to injuries, casting doubt on his availability for the upcoming Ashes series this winter. Despite making a gradual return to the international scene via white-ball cricket, Archer's selection for the Test squad remains uncertain, as confirmed by England head coach Brendon McCullum.
Injury Woes and Gradual Return
Archer has been plagued by injuries since 2021, including a stress fracture in his elbow and a back issue. This has prevented him from donning England colors in Test cricket for over a year. However, the 28-year-old has been slowly working his way back to fitness, featuring in white-ball matches for Sussex and England recently.
McCullum's Cautious Approach
Despite Archer's return to action, McCullum has adopted a cautious approach regarding his selection for the Ashes. The head coach emphasized that Archer's fitness and form must be fully evaluated before he can be considered for the Test squad. McCullum also pointed out the intense competition for places within the England team, making it even more challenging for Archer to secure a berth.
Strong Competition
England's Test team has performed admirably in Archer's absence, with the emergence of players like Ollie Robinson, Matthew Potts, and Saqib Mahmood. The emergence of these bowlers, coupled with the experience of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, has created a highly competitive environment within the squad.
Archer's Future Prospects
Archer's absence from the Test team has been a significant blow to England's aspirations. The pacer's pace, accuracy, and wicket-taking ability would be a major asset in Australian conditions. However, it remains to be seen whether he can regain full fitness and form in time for the Ashes.
Top 5 FAQs on Jofra Archer and the Ashes
1. Will Jofra Archer play in the Ashes?
His selection is not guaranteed, as he needs to prove his fitness and form first.
2. Why has Archer been out injured?
He has suffered from a stress fracture in his elbow and a back issue.
3. How has England performed without Archer?
They have performed well, with bowlers like Ollie Robinson and Matthew Potts emerging.
4. Is there a lot of competition for places in England's Test team?
Yes, with the emergence of new bowlers and the experience of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
5. When will the Ashes series take place?
It is scheduled to take place this winter (2023-24).
A heartwarming video of New Zealand cricketers Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra went viral on social media after Santner's impressive run-out of Indian batsman Rishabh Pant in the second Test at Pune. While Santner was responsible for taking 13 wickets in the game, Ravindra's display of affection towards the all-rounder added to the celebratory mood. The Black Caps are now in a dominant position with a 359-run target for India, who are on the verge of losing two consecutive home Tests.
As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction approaches, all eyes are on Tim David, the Singapore-born cricketer known for his powerful batting. After a successful debut with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2021, David attracted bids from six franchises in the 2022 auction before ultimately securing a record deal with Mumbai Indians (MI). With a strike rate of 216.28 in his first season with MI, David has cemented his place as one of the top T20 batsmen in the world. However, after being released by MI in 2024, it remains to be seen which team will secure his services in the upcoming auction. Stay tuned for more updates.
After making his IPL debut with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2024, Will Jacks has emerged as a highly sought-after player in the league. His power-hitting ability and versatile batting skills have earned him a spot in Mumbai Indians (MI) for a whopping price of INR 5.25 crore in the IPL 2025 auction. Despite interest from other teams, MI managed to secure him after RCB chose not to use their RTM card. With his impressive performance and impact on the team, Jacks has become the talk of the town and will definitely be a player to watch out for in the upcoming season.
Al Ahli Saudi FC continued their unbeaten streak in the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 season with a convincing 5-1 victory over Al Shorta from Iraq. Playing at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, the home team dominated from the start and secured their fourth win in a row. The impressive performance solidifies their spot at the top of the table and places them as strong contenders for the championship title.
In the third day of the Ranji Trophy 2014-15 Group A tie, a steady bowling performance from Swapnil Singh and Yusuf Pathan kept Railways at 251/7, trailing Baroda by 47 runs. Despite initial struggles with losing two openers early on, Railways managed to hold up a strong partnership of 77 runs between Arindam Ghosh and Rohan Bhosale. However, Baroda's careful line and length led by Swapnil and Yusuf, hampered Bhosale's progress and led to other key wickets being taken, dampening Railways' hopes. With a day of play left and only a 47-run deficit, both teams remain determined to secure a win.
In a major blow to Deepak Hooda's hopes of featuring in the IPL 2025 mega auction, the BCCI has added him to the list of players with suspected bowling action. This comes at an unfortunate time for the all-rounder who was recently released by his IPL team. While veteran batter Manish Pandey has been banned from bowling altogether, Hooda's situation is uncertain which raises doubts over his value as an all-rounder. With not many established names in the category of Indian batters who can also bowl, this turn of events puts Hooda's future in IPL at risk.
Indian pacer Anshul Kamboj, who made his IPL debut last season with Mumbai Indians, was snapped up by Chennai Super Kings at the mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The bidding war for Kamboj started with Delhi Capitals before Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians joined in, resulting in a record-breaking price of Rs 3.4 crore. The Super Kings successfully secured Kamboj's services for the upcoming IPL season.
In a highly competitive bidding war at the IPL 2025 auction in Jeddah, Australian all-rounder Tim David was bought by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for a whopping Rs. 3 crore. Sunrisers Hyderabad initiated the bidding, but RCB quickly joined in and outbid them to secure David's services. This comes after he was released by Mumbai Indians earlier this year.
Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar was sold for a whopping Rs 10.75 crore to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL mega auction held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. His valuation skyrocketed from his base price of Rs 2 crore as RCB and Mumbai Indians fought for his acquisition. Bhuvneshwar rejoined RCB, his first IPL franchise, after stints with Pune Warriors and Sunrisers Hyderabad where he became the team's all-time leading wicket-taker. Other notable transfers included Deepak Chahar to Mumbai Indians, Akash Deep to Lucknow Super Giants, Tushar Deshpande to Rajasthan Royals, and Delhi Capitals exercising their Right to Match option for Mukesh Kumar.
The second day of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Auction 2025 saw a total of 84 players being auctioned at the Abadi Al Johar Arena in Jeddah, with a whopping 72 players being sold for a total of Rs 467.95 crore by the 10 teams. The most expensive signings included Rishab Pant, Shreyas Iyer, and Venkatesh Iyer, with the accelerated auction beginning from Player No. 117. Some exciting signings on Day 2 included Shubham Dubey and Shaikh Rasheed, who were picked up by Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings respectively. Stay tuned for updates on the accelerated auction process.