Archer’s aiming for quick return
tive goal since August 2016. There was just enough about that second-half improvement to point to a potential way forward for Corberan as he considers his approach to the final run-in, and you feel that if they can replicate what they produced late on and cut out the stupid errors – something we’ve begged all season, sadly – then the Terriers may just have a win or two left in them this season.
If that seems wilfully optimistic…well, perhaps it is. But Town have to find a way to win games sooner or later, and the last two games have offered practically nothing in the way of positives to cling onto.
At least here, where O’Brien, Rowe and Thomas looked like they might actually be capable of making something happen, we have a couple of things to hang onto.
We need to see a proper game against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, though, or all of that will be for nothing.
ENGLAND paceman Jofra Archer has been given the nod to return to light training after surgery to remove a fragment of glass from his finger last month, but his level of involvement in this year’s Indian Premier League remains unclear.
The ECB has set no timetable on Archer’s playing comeback, although England are hopeful he will be able to up his bowling workload ‘from next week’ as he continues his rehabilitation from a freak injury to the middle finger of his right hand that occurred when he dropped a fish tank in the bath in January.
While the problem was managed during England’s recent India tour and dealt with upon his return home, Archer also had a further injection to a troublesome elbow which deteriorated enough during the two-month trip to force action.
The combination of these issues has already led to Archer’s absence for the early stages of the IPL, where he is the reigning MVP and on an £800,000 contract with Rajasthan Royals, as England look to manage his workload.
Kumar Sangakkara, director of cricket with the Royals, recently moved to reassure England they will not take any undue risks with Archer in a T20 World Cup and Ashes year.
The former Sri Lanka captain said: “His value to world cricket and to England cricket is always part of our decision-making process and we are always guided by the experts in English cricket who look after Jofra to guide us on how we could support that journey.
“It’s not something we look at selfishly in terms of playing in the IPL. We understand the value of Jofra and we take a holistic view of how important Jofra is not just to our cause but to England cricket and world cricket as well.
“It’s very important Jofra gets fit, not just for IPL but for his international career, and that he is in a very good space with his body and mentally when he does come here.”
Ben Stokes, meanwhile, is out of the IPL with a broken finger which he suffered in the Rajasthan Royals’ opening game with Punjab Kings on Monday.
Meanwhile, the ECB are exploring using ‘outs’ instead of ‘wickets’ in the inaugural edition of The Hundred as the governing body looks at ways to broaden the game’s appeal.
Discussions are ongoing about the proposal for the 100-ball competition featuring eight newly-created teams including the Leeds-based Northern Superchargers – that is set to belatedly launch this summer following a 12-month postponement because of the pandemic.
It is understood the ECB is not attempting to make wholesale changes to terminology and views the term ‘out’ to indicate a batter’s dismissal as part of cricket’s lexicon already.
“The Hundred is designed to make cricket accessible to everyone, and research shows that the language of the game can sometimes be a barrier,” a spokesperson for The Hundred said. “Along with our broadcast partners, we want The Hundred to open cricket up to more people, as well as entertaining existing fans, so we’re discussing the clearest ways of explaining the game, but nothing’s been finalised.”