England have received a major injury boost, with Jofra Archer set to begin bowling again in the nets with Sussex following serious elbow and back problems which have prevented him from playing international cricket since March 2021.
Archer first underwent two operations to sort out a chronic elbow issue and was set to make his return in the T20 Blast with Sussex this summer before suffering a stress fracture of the back. He revealed in June he was due to be back bowling in September and the i report that Archer will start bowling in the nets 'in the next few weeks', with England planning to 'ramp up his recovery in October and November' in the hope that he will be back in action early next year.
Former England seamer Steven Finn, who is now teammates with Archer at Sussex, told i: "He's progressing nicely. I've seen him a fair bit over the last few weeks and he's very positive about the way it's all progressing and healing.
"The England physios are down quite frequently visiting him and checking how he's getting on. I've seen him batting in the nets recently as well, which I think shows it's getting better and healing as well.
"It's been a very tough 18 months for him but to see him up and moving about again and with a cricket bat in his hand is great. I'm not sure if he's bowled yet to be honest with you but I've seen him batting a couple of times and he seems in good spirits.
"I think it's very positive news for everyone that he's back moving around again and starting to train." Although there have been concerns over Archer's Test match future due to his injury problems, Managing Director of England Men's Cricket Rob Key said he remains confident that the 27-year-old has a future in all formats.
With the 2023 Ashes set to take place in June and July, Archer will surely be hopeful of featuring, having previously described missing the 2021 T20 World Cup and the subsequent Ashes series as "the hardest two pills I've had to swallow".
And Finn believes Archer would mesh perfectly with the new brand of positive and aggressive Test cricket England are playing under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes. "If he could be part of that Ashes series I think it would give England a great opportunity to win it," Finn added.
"With the style that he has and the way he plays his cricket would fit in with the way that dressing-room seems to be working at the moment. I've got no idea when he's due to be fit or back bowling or playing but I know things are going well and he's very positive looking forward."
