The last 10 months haven't really been kind to Jofra Archer. The speedster has missed a lot of cricketing action due to his injuries. He last played competitive cricket in July 2021.
He was last seen playing for Sussex in the Natwest T20 Blast. To add salt to the wounds, Archer is all set to miss the upcoming English summer as well. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the same in its press release. It is to be noted that the pacer was set to feature in the T20 Blast this season, which is slated to take place next month.
However, his latest injury has further delayed his comeback. The ECB stated that the 27-year-old has been diagnosed with a stress fracture to the lower back. Further on, there isn't a specific timeframe set for his return.
“After being diagnosed with a stress fracture to the lower back, England and Sussex seamer Jofra Archer has been ruled out for the rest of the season. No timeframe has been set for his return. A management plan will be determined following further specialist opinion over the coming days,” read ECB's statement, as quoted by CricTracker.
Besides, Archer last played for England in March 2021. The Brits would have certainly loved to have him feature in the Tests against New Zealand and India. Nevertheless, they will be keenly waiting for him to return. Having said that, England would hope that he is available for the upcoming 20-20 World Cup 2022, which is slated to take place in Australia later this year.
In the meanwhile, the Mumbai-based franchise are keeping a close eye on Archer's fitness as well. The five-time champions had acquired his services for a whopping amount of INR 8 during the Indian T20 League 2022 mega auction. This is despite knowing that he will skip the ongoing 2022 edition, and will only be available from the 2023 edition. When it comes to his record in the cash-rich league, Archer has picked 46 wickets in 35 games at an average of 21.33. He also won the MVP award during the 2020 edition.