Back in action
England quick’s pre-lockdown elbow injury fully healed
England paceman Jofra Archer says he has fully recovered from a right elbow injury sustained earlier this year and hopes to play in all three Tests against the West Indies next month.
Barbados-born Archer’s injury had ruled him out of England’s tour of Sri Lanka and the Indian Premier League before both were postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This past fortnight has been a lot different from the previous few weeks of practice as the intensity when you introduce batters goes up without you even noticing,” Archer wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.
“So far everything feels like clockwork. Crunch in, crunch out, my body feels fresh, and there are no issues with my right elbow whatsoever, touch wood.”
The first Test is scheduled to begin in Southampton on July 8, with the last two matches at Old Trafford, in Manchester, as international cricket returns from the coronavirus shutdown. The games will be played behind closed doors in a bio-secure environment
“Despite the fact that the three matches of this series are played in such a short space of time ... I could play all three — but everyone will be a bit cautious in terms of workload, thinking about the body and what lies ahead,” Archer said.
“Bowling has been a gradual progression but though I was resting my elbow injury when we went into lockdown in March, I have followed similar loads to the other England Test bowlers.”
Meanwhile, West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel is set to join the Test squad, having regained his pace and fitness, head coach Phil Simmons said ahead of the England series.
The 32-year-old right-arm quick arrived in England as one of 11 reserve players, with doubts about his fitness after an ankle injury.
Simmons told British media on Monday Gabriel could join the touring party and that he was looking fit.
“The last week he’s been at full tilt and he looks fit,” said Simmons.
“He’s bowling as fast as I’ve seen him for a while so he’s ready.”
Windies will play two warm-up matches before the first Test and Simmons will be keeping an eye on Gabriel’s progress before deciding to add him to the Test pool.
“When leaving home 14 were named in the squad,” the coach said.”
“Because of Shannon coming back from his injury, we had to let him get a little bit further and see how he is and then we’ll decide whether to make it a 15-member squad.” —