Archer makes it through return unscathed
Jofra Archer came through his injury return unscathed but will face a more rigorous assessment of recent finger and elbow problems in the coming days.
Pace bowler Archer is bidding to be fit for the start of England’s international summer and did not show any discomfort as he hit 35 from 46 balls for Sussex’s second XI.
With the hosts batting for the duration of the opening day of the Second Eleven Championship match against Surrey in Hove, the 26-year-old was denied an opportunity with the ball and must wait for a chance to fully test his fitness.
Should things remain on track, he will target Sussex’s LV= Insurance County Championship match against Kent on May 13 as the next step in his rehabilitation, ahead of England’s two-Test series against New Zealand, which starts on June 2 at Lord’s.
Archer cut his hand in January, before England’s tour of India, where he played in two of the four Tests and all five Twenty20s.
He was back on the field for the first time since his country’s 36-run T20 defeat in Ahmedabad on March 20 having undergone surgery to remove fragments of glass from a finger, while continuing to manage the longstanding elbow problem.
The World Cup-winner withdrew from playing for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League to focus on his recovery.
His comeback came on the day that tournament was postponed indefinitely due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis and he was made to wait in the pavilion until late afternoon after Sussex won the toss and elected to bat.