SOUTH AFRICA INVITATION XI v ENGLAND JOFRA IS ELBOWED OUT

Tearful Archer’s early exit will open the door for Mahmood

JOFRA ARCHER was yesterday ruled out of England’s T20 series with South Africa.

The pace bowler has been unable to play since a problem with his right elbow flared up in the first Test in Centurion and now looks unlikely to feature again for England until the summer. Archer was distraught in Johannesburg, bursting into tears on discovering he would not be fit to play in the fourth and final Test, which England won to take the series 3-1. The bone stress injury is likely to also prevent him from touring Sri Lanka in March. Seam bowling is expected to play only a minimal part on the pitches there which are designed to help spinners. Before his withdrawal was confirmed Archer, 24, said: “If the elbow isn’t good enough I can’t see them sending me. “We’ve a long summer of cricket coming up, we’ve a T20 World Cup and the physios will have a plan for my wellbeing.”

His wellbeing and that of fellow speedster Mark Wood are at the front of the minds of England’s management, who are determined to take great care over their fastest bowlers.

Saqib Mahmood (above) will replace Archer in the T20 squad, remaining in South Africa following the upcoming oneday series which begins next week.

Mahmood is one of three pace bowlers alongside Craig Overton and Olly Stone to have signed new contracts designed to give England control over their workloads.

The aim is to have Archer, Wood and Stone, the three quickest men at England’s disposal, fit and firing when they arrive in Australia at the end of next year to try to reclaim the Ashes.

Head coach Chris Silverwood has described it as a “two-year project”. Managing director Ashley Giles said: “Having a strong supply line of highquality seam bowlers is an essential ingredient for sustained England Team success in both white-ball and red-ball cricket.”

The pace bowling cupboard still has the likes of Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Ben Stokes, Chris Jordan, and Tom Curran available as options for skippers Eoin Morgan and Root, but Archer and Wood remain the most cherished of the lot.