England quick Jofra Archer is set to make his return to competitive cricket in the inaugural edition of the SA20, with the 27-year-old due to make a handful of appearances for MI Cape Town.
Archer has not represented England since March 2021 and last played a competitive match in July 2021, having struggled with a host of injury problems in recent years. He was first sidelined with an elbow injury that required two operations.
He then suffered a stress fracture of the back as he prepared to make his comeback for Sussex last summer, ruling him out of action for the remainder of the year. However, Archer is now fully fit and recently bowled nine overs in a warm-up match ahead of England's recent Test tour of Pakistan.
He is set to make his full international return in the ODI series against South Africa later this month, but England view the SA20 as an important building block in his return ahead of a blockbuster year containing an Ashes series and their 50-over World Cup defence.
Managing Director of England Men's Cricket Rob Key explained in November: "Our plan for him is he will play two games in the South African franchise [SA20], which will be his first competitive cricket. "If he gets through that, we will pick him for the South Africa ODI series, so he will go from four overs to 10 overs."
England white ball captain Jos Buttler is set to face Archer in the tournament opener and cannot wait to see him back in action. "Selfishly, I'm really excited to see Jofra Archer back on the pitch," Buttler said in a clip posted on Paarl Royals' social media accounts.
"Jofra has been out for a long time with some injuries and selfishly, as England white-ball captain, I'm really excited to see him back and available, and playing cricket. I think that is a treat for everyone around the world that such an x-factor player is back and on the field. So, we'll have to be at our best to combat him because he's a superstar. But I just think it's a great moment that he's going to be back playing cricket competitively."
England legend Kevin Pietersen is also looking forward to seeing Archer make his competitive return, telling Betway: "For me, the biggest story is the return of Jofra Archer after nearly two years out with injury. I don't think I was alone in wondering whether he had a future at the top of the game after so many injury blows, but I desperately hope that this is the start of the second phase of his career.
"He's a star of the game, he proved that with his incredible first year in international cricket in 2019. He's also one of the nicest guys you'll meet – except when he has the ball in hand, because you don't want to be on the receiving end of one of his rockets.
"Hopefully he lights up this tournament. It will be huge for England if he does, with the Ashes and the World Cup coming up this year."
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