Jofra Archer set to miss West Indies series with a second elbow operation needed
- Sean Fisher
- 21 December 2021
The 26-year-old fast bowler has been out of action for nine months already, but a fresh injury concern means he'll remain sidelined, ruling him out of March's three-Test tour against West Indies.
After being absent with an injured elbow for the past nine months, Jofra Archer underwent surgery on Saturday, but it's now been revealed he'll need another operation meaning his time on the sidelines will extend to over a year.
That rules him out of March's three-Test tour against his native West Indies, which had previously been his comeback target, with the recent news meaning he'll have to focus on England's domestic campaign in 2022.
The news adds to his misery after already missing out on the Ashes, where he has been a sorely missed figure within the England squad. He had previously been expected to be a key player in the tour, with his fast bowling a crucial part of the side's attack.
Archer first burst onto the scene during the 2019 World Cup, where his scintillating form helped England lift the cup. He then followed it up with a stunning Test debut against Australia at Lord's just a few weeks later.
If he was able to bring that form with him to the Ashes, then England may not be in their current predicament, but frankly Archer has failed as of yet to recapture the magic of those early performances, albeit not helped by consistent injuries.
He continues to be a hugely attractive asset in Twenty20 circuit, but he's keen to remind everyone of his desire to play in five-day formats, but there's obvious concerns about whether his fitness will allow it.
Despite another setback, Archer has commented on his rehabilitation, and put a positive twist on the news.
"The results came back yesterday and it was quite promising, actually - everything is moving forward nicely," said the 26-year-old.
"It's just a matter of waiting a little bit more and being a little bit more patient because I'm almost at the end of the road."
An update on @jofraarcher's fitness 👇
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 21, 2021
The news was first announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board, who stated: "Jofra Archer underwent a second operation on his injured right elbow on Saturday 11 December in London. The procedure addressed the long-standing stress fracture of his right elbow.
"A return to cricket will be determined in time, but Jofra will will not be available for any of England's remaining winter series."
