NEW AGONY FOR JOFRA

He’s out for season with stress fracture in back

JOFRA ARCHER is battling to save his international career after being ruled out for the season with a stress fracture to his lower back.

The classic fast bowler’s injury sees him miss a second successive T20 World Cup in Australia in October having spent most of the last year on the sidelines because of a chronic problem with his right elbow.

He had two operations and was making decent progress in getting himself ready to return this summer. He trained with England’s white-ball and red-ball squads in Barbados during their respective tours in January and March and looked in fine fettle.

But after discomfort in his back as his workload was increased, Archer was sent for a scan and the stress fracture was discovered.

It leaves the 27-year-old facing another lengthy period of rest and rehabilitation during what should be his peak as a fast bowler.

He has not played international cricket for more than a year and is understood to be devastated by the setback, although perhaps has started to come to terms with it after messaging fellow injured fast bowler Saqib Mahmood. He asked Mahmood, who is suffering with the same injury: “What series are we watching first?”

A number of England fast bowlers are injured or coming back from injury and former speedster Steve Harmison has his own theory on why they are struggling.

He said: “Saqib Mahmood has gone down again, Olly Stone, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer. From my point of view, and people say I’m an idiot when I say it – they don’t bowl enough. It’s as simple as that.

“The one thing that gets you fit and strong and consistent from an action point of view is bowling.”