England seam bowler and his pet problem
Archer faces surgery after injuring a hand cleaning a fish tank
Jofra Archer suffered the cut to his bowling hand that requires surgery when he dropped a fish tank in the bath, it has been revealed.
Archer will learn the extent of the damage when he has an operation today to determine whether there is an infection in the wound.
He is understood to have cut a finger on broken glass while attempting to clean his fish tank at home in January, before flying to India, although the minor injury had healed by the time he joined up with the Test squad. It only came to light at the weekend when England announced he would be having a “procedure” on the injury today.
“Jofra cut his hand before he came here, but when he arrived the wound had closed up. It didn’t really give him too much hassle,” said Chris Silverwood, the England head coach. “The fact is when he’s at home getting his elbow injected, it gave us an opportunity to assess his finger as well and see if there’s any sort of infection there or anything.
“I’m not quite sure what’s in there. Obviously, he’ll see the specialist and they’ll make an assessment, but it was just an ideal time for him to get it looked at.”
Archer has already had a cortisone injection in his right elbow. He has been beset by injuries over the past year, with his elbow first flaring up in South Africa in early 2020, and he has not looked fully fit since.
Surgery is likely to be the only alternative if this latest cortisone injection does not work.
England are very reluctant to operate on a fast bowler’s bowling arm for fear of lasting damage from the surgery, but rest and injections have not worked so far.
Rajasthan Royals remain hopeful he will play a part in the Indian Premier League, but England should not risk a relapse away from the supervision of their medical staff.