Jofra Archer is hoping to play for England at the T20 World Cup in Barbados this summer as he battles to get his injury-hit career back on track.
The paceman has not played a professional match since May 2023 due to an elbow injury but is nearing full fitness and is expected to be named in England’s provisional squad for the World Cup that is being staged in the United States and the Caribbean.
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Jos Buttler’s men open the defence of their T20 crown in Barbados – the island of Archer’s birth – with games against Scotland and Australia and the 29-year-old admits it would mean a lot to him to take part.
He told The Athlete’s Voice by 4CAST: “I really do want to be in the team.
”I really do want to be playing back at home… I’d love my family and my dogs at that first game back. I haven’t played for England at all this year, so I think it would be really fitting if that could happen.”
Archer insists he won’t rush his comeback, however, despite the emotional pull.
“The last two years have been really stop-start, so I just think that everyone’s going to just take it a bit easy,” Archer added. “If I’m ready then fine, happy days. But if I’m not, they’re still supporting me until whenever I am ready.
“Worst-case scenario, even if I don’t make it to the World Cup for whatever reason, there’s still the T20 Blast, there’s still the Hundred. There’s still cricket that I haven’t got a chance to play in the last couple of years.
“As much as I want to play in the World Cup, if it doesn’t happen for whatever reason, at least I still know I could be somewhat active as well.
“Last year, I played from January to May, because I did go to the IPL as well. And then the year before that, I played maybe one or two games for Sussex, so I’ve had a whole year of nothing… hopefully, from June 1 and when June 1 comes next year, hopefully I’ve had no breaks… no injuries, and just constantly playing.
“It’s been a while and honestly, I don’t know if I’ve got another stop-start year in me. That’s the truth. I don’t know if I’ve got another one.”
